Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa has backed Shreyas Iyer to be India’s next T20I captain ahead of Shubman Gill. Uthappa reckons Gill might not be India’s all-format skipper after he was appointed as ODI captain for the Australia series.
The 25-year-old was given the captaincy reins in Test cricket ahead of the England tour and he played a key role in India’s 2-2 series result. On the other hand, Iyer was named as Gill’s deputy for the ODI series against Australia. Moreover, Iyer has a fantastic T20I record as a leader, leading Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to IPL final in 2020 and 2025 respectively.
Furthermore, lyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to glory in IPL 2024 and has impressed with his leadership.
Robin Uthappa said on his YouTube Channel, “I get One Day and Test cricket, and I think he’s a solid pick in Test cricket, and he’s shown us that as well. As far as ODI cricket is concerned, I think his numbers are good, but I think they’ll get better for a player of his caliber. I think they will look at Shreyas Iyer as a captain in T20. Shubman Gill, he still has to earn that spot.”
Uthappa reckons the duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson can open the innings with Abhishek Sharma in T20Is after Shubman Gill failed to nail the opening slot in the Asia Cup.
Robin added, “Especially when have Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting in the wings, Sanju Samson’s spot being shifted, Shreyas Iyer not being a part of the side, waiting in the wings as well. I wish his Asia Cup went better for him for his sake because now Abhishek has run with that one opener slot. Now, the second opener slot is still very much open. As far as I am concerned, Yashasvi can be someone who can come up there. Sanju can certainly come up there.”
“I still think Gill needs to secure his spot first. So, I don’t think it will be taken for granted in a sense where he will be captain or he will be next in line.” We know and we’ve seen Indian cricket changes overnight; things change very quickly, narratives change very quickly. Honestly, vice-captaincy in India doesn’t mean very much… Like, you’ve seen a bunch of vice-captains not becoming captain, right?” he added.
Gill scored 127 runs in seven matches of the Asia Cup.
