Former Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra has said that Shubman Gill cannot become the T20I captain for the Men in Blue. The cricketer turned commentator made the comments after Team India registered a 96-run win over New Zealand to lift the T20 World Cup 2026 trophy in Ahmedabad on March 8.
The young batsman was appointed as India’s T20I vice-captain, a few months ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. However, the management dropped him from the team for the T20 World Cup. The selectors backed Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan at the top of the order, which proved crucial for the hosts to secure the trophy.
He cannot get T20 captaincy – Akash Chopra on Shubman Gill
Aakash Chopra answered fans’ questions on his official YouTube channel. He said that it is not possible for the Indian team to have the same captain in all three international formats. Chopra said that it would be difficult for Shubman Gill to return to the T20 team.
“It is going to be difficult, although the Indian team thought that it would be easier if there was only one captain for all three formats. However, that will not be the case at all,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
He said, “I think we will not be able to do that because he is the Test and ODI captain, but he cannot get the T20 captaincy. At the moment, it is difficult to name him because of the way the Indian team is playing, especially in the last four matches.”
We should not lose Test batsman – Aakash Chopra
The veteran commentator said that the Indian team does not need an anchor. Chopra warned that Gill should not waste his natural technique at all in his return to the shortest format of the game.
“When you are talking about 250, and that too in the World Cup, then you don’t think you need an anchor. Gill can adapt and make changes, but we should not lose Shubman Gill, the Test batsman, in trying to find him, and should not lose Shubman Gill who can become a great player in ODIs. I think it is going to be difficult for Shubman Gill,” he said.
Shubman Gill to lead Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026
The right-handed batsman will return to action during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign. The much-awaited tournament is scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 28. Gill will lead the Gujarat Titans (GT) franchise in the upcoming season.
The captain will definitely look to perform exceptionally well this season to regain his lost position in the Indian T20 team. During the 2025 edition, he scored 650 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 50.00, which included six half-centuries.
Last year, Gujarat Titans’ campaign ended with a defeat against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the eliminator. The opening batsman would once again want to take the lead from the front.
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