Team India’s T20I team selection: Should Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer be included in a settled squad ahead of Asia Cup 2025?
Since India won the 2024 World T20, they have gone from strength to strength in this format under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav. India are currently the No. 1 T20I team, despite some of their star players such as Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer missing from the T20I scheme of things.
However, things may change now as India look to defend their World T20 title next year. Although India have a settled combination in both batting and bowling in T20Is, they may have a look at Gill and Iyer whose stocks have risen post their performances in Indian Premier League 2025.
Not only them, the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan also had a brilliant IPL last season. But Gill and Iyer are ahead in the race as they do not only bring their batting, but also leadership skills to the table. Moreover, India would look to build a team for the future under a new leader post 2026 World T20.
But is there really a need to fit in both Gill & Iyer?
Currently, India have a settled opening pair in Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. The two have destroyed bowling attacks individually and in pairs, posting aggressive tons.
Since the 2024 World T20, Samson has scored three tons and one fifty in 17 T20Is. However, Samson has batted at a strike rate of 180-plus in the 12 T20Is he played in 2024 post the World T20. Abhishek has been even more lethal, scoring two tons and two fifties in 17 games but at a strike rate of 193.84.
The pair’s aggressive approach has given the licence to the batters to follow who can then continue the momentum and get a huge total on the board or chase down with plenty to spare. Hence, India would think twice before they break this successful pair.
Read More: Players who can make a return into India’s T20I set up
India need to build back-ups
Nevertheless, India also need to build back-ups for Abhishek and Samson, in case either of them get injured or are not available. Hence, it would be imperative for India to give a few T20I games to Gill to get him into the T20I mode to be the third opener for the side ahead of the 2026 World T20.
Gill could also be given the second opener’s slot to partner Abhishek, while Samson is pushed down the order or given a new responsibility of finishing games. It all depends on how desperate India, under coach Gautam Gambhir, are to get Gill back into the T20I fold.
For the record, Gill has performed decently in T20Is or T20 cricket since the 2024 World T20. He could play only seven T20Is in the period, but posted two T20 fifties at a humble strike rate of 133. Nevertheless, Gill had a stellar IPL last season, where he scored 650 runs at an average of 50 and strike rate of 155.87 with six fifties in 15 matches.
Besides, after India’s successful 2-2 Test series draw in England under Gill, India would be looking to give an additional responsibility of vice captaincy to Gill so that he can lead India as a full-time captain in this format in the future. Current T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is turning 35, and may not last too long to meet the changing dynamics of this format. Gill, 25, fits the bill as the opener-cum-captain.
Read More: Essentials India must focus on to defend their title in T20 World Cup 2026
Iyer is too good to be ignored
Shreyas Iyer has been banging on the selectors’ door for more T20I appearances for a long time now. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title, while leading from the front in the next season to take Punjab Kings to the final. He scored 604 runs at an average of 50.33 and strike rate of 175.07 with six fifties in 17 games in IPL 2025. Iyer even led Mumbai to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 title.
But should India push middle-order batter Iyer into the T20I squad where Tilak Varma and SKY are shuffling between Nos. 3 and 4 to keep a left-right combination going in the middle?
If both Varma and SKY play at 3 and 4 or vice-versa, Iyer at best could bat at No. 5 unless SKY promotes him up the order at No. 3 or 4 to make the best use of Iyer’s T20 skills and experience. Iyer could also give stiff competition to Gill as a future T20I captain.
Dark horses: Jaiswal & Sudharsan
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan are too good to be warming the benches. But such is the competition in India’s T20I set-up that even a destructive opener such as Jaiswal may see himself sitting at home, while India play a T20I series.
Nevertheless, both Jaiswal and Sudharsan need to be ready to bat whenever the opportunity arrives. If India need to build a reserve of destructive and consistent T20 batters, they don’t need to look further than Jaiswal and Sudharsan.
Read More: India’s T20I Juggernaut Rolls On: The Secret Behind Their Unstoppable Run
