Mohammed Kaif backs Shubman Gill’s vice-captaincy ahead of Asia Cup 2025

Overview

• Shubman Gill has been named the vice-captain of Team India for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
• Mohammed Kaif has backed that decision.
• He has Gill’s leadership qualities.

Team India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 has been announced, and the return of Shubman Gill to the T20I setup has become a hot topic of debate. Not only has he come back as a batter, but also as the vice-captain of the side. While several former cricketers have raised questions about his inclusion, former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has strongly backed him.

Also Read: Will Shubman Gill be India's T20I Captain after Suryakumar Yadav?

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif praised Gill’s leadership and recalled his impressive stint as the skipper of the Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025.

"Why was he made vice-captain? It’s because he has leadership qualities. We saw in England that he led brilliantly, levelled the series at 2-2. He scored runs with the bat. The selectors, especially Ajit Agarkar, once quoted that they go to the dressing room and talk with the players about how Gill is leading the team for Gujarat. This (comment) was made during IPL. The way Gill worked with the Gujarat Titans there was great news. Everyone praised him. Gill, the leader, performed excellently," he said.

Gill is currently leading the test side of the team India

Kaif further highlighted Gill’s tactical awareness.

"What will be the playing XI? Who will bowl when, and he looked good tactically as well. This was Agarkar’s point of view, and after that, the team was made for the Test match. Gill was made captain for the England tour, and of course, it’s praiseworthy because I saw him closely in the IPL,” he added.

Also Read: Indian women's team record in ODI World Cup

Kaif also underlined Gill’s consistency with the bat, pointing out his remarkable IPL record.

“He led brilliantly, and his bat never stops. If you look at his performance in IPL over the last three years, he has scored nearly 2000 runs. The strike rate is in 150s. So, there is no lack in any area. See, the selectors always keep in mind IPL’s performance,” Kaif concluded.