India captain Shubman Gill during a press conference, ahead of the first cricket match of the ODI series between India and New Zealand, in Vadodara, Gujarat. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary) NEW DELHI: After India won their third T20 World Cup under Suryakumar Yadav, former opener Aakash Chopra said it will be difficult for Shubman Gill to return to the T20I side, let alone captain.Gill, who currently leads India in Tests and ODIs, returned to the T20I team in 2025 after 14 months and was even named vice-captain during the Asia Cup.
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However, his form remained patchy, failing to score a half-century in 15 matches, which eventually led to his exclusion from the World Cup squad.Given India’s strong performance and victory in the tournament, Chopra believes the team is unlikely to consider Gill as the T20I captain again. “It will be difficult even though the Indian team thought it would be easier if there was one captain for all three formats. But that is not going to happen at all. I feel we won’t be able to do that because he is the Test and ODI captain but can’t get the T20I captaincy. At the moment even his name is difficult because Chopra is playing the last four matches on his YouTube channel.”Chopra also suggested that Gill should focus on excelling in the longer formats rather than trying to adjust his game for T20Is. “When you talk about 250 and that too in the World Cup, then you don’t think you need an anchor. Shubman Gill can adapt and change but we shouldn’t lose Shubman Gill, the Test batsman, trying to find that and lose Shubman Gill who can become an absolute giant in ODIs. I think it will be difficult for Shubman Gill,” he said.
