Suryakumar Yadav must rediscover his batting form from Rohit Sharma’s era, or risk Shubman Gill seizing the opportunity.
Shubman Gill Poised to Take Over as India’s Next All-Format Captain
Shubman Gill’s appointment as India’s vice-captain for the upcoming Asia Cup has sparked conversations about the future of Indian cricket leadership. Having already captained the Test side, Gill is being groomed as the next all-format skipper, with the BCCI seemingly inclined to restore the tradition of having one leader across formats — a legacy established by MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. With Rohit Sharma at 38 and Suryakumar Yadav approaching 35, the transition to Shubman Gill feels inevitable.
The Asia Cup, beginning tomorrow, is expected to serve as a precursor to the T20 World Cup, scheduled in six months’ time. While Suryakumar will likely lead in the immediate future, Gill is waiting patiently in the wings. The BCCI is unlikely to disrupt the current leadership structure so close to a global tournament, but once it concludes, decision-makers could move quickly to hand Gill the reins.
Adding weight to the debate, former India batter Wasim Jaffer pointed out that Suryakumar’s form could dictate his future as captain. “His numbers dropping while leading India is a worry. In his recent internationals, he relied too heavily on leg-side strokes, and his shot selection wasn’t up to the mark,” Jaffer told Times of India. He added that Suryakumar looked much more complete in the IPL, scoring freely on both sides of the wicket, and must replicate that at the international level.
Ultimately, the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup could mark the final stepping stones before Shubman Gill ascends to all-format captaincy.
Suryakumar Yadav’s numbers as captain
Wasim Jaffer’s concerns largely stem from Suryakumar Yadav’s inconsistent form since taking over as captain. In the five-match T20I series against England earlier this year, Surya managed just 28 runs — a glaring dip for a player once hailed as India’s most explosive T20 batter. Since assuming leadership, his tally stands at 558 runs from 22 matches, a significant drop compared to his golden run under Rohit Sharma, when he amassed 2,040 runs from 61 games at an average of 43.4.
Though Surya rediscovered some rhythm in the IPL — blasting 717 runs with five half-centuries — Jaffer cautioned that the resurgence doesn’t erase the pressure. With Shubman Gill steadily establishing himself, Surya may not face an immediate challenge, but Jaffer insists he cannot afford complacency.
“Every tour, every series, you have a vice-captain. That doesn’t mean the captain is under threat,” Jaffer told Times of India. “Selectors have made it clear — Bumrah can’t play every series, so he’s out. Hardik? They’re not looking at him for now. That leaves Shubman, and maybe Shreyas when he’s back. On the contrary, experienced heads like Hardik, Bumrah, Shubman will only help in crunch situations, but at the end of the day, Surya must make the tough calls.”
For now, the captaincy reins remain firmly in Surya’s hands, but with Gill’s rising stature and steady performances, the room for error is shrinking fast.
