Shubman Gill Announced India Vice-captain for Champions Trophy 2025; Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel Ignored

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced Shubman Gill as the vice-captain of the Indian ODI team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, marking a significant milestone in the young batter's career. Gill succeeds Hardik Pandya in this role.

He solidified his place at the top of India's batting order. The decision came as captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar unveiled the squad for the global event set to be held in Dubai. The selection committee has opted for a fresh leadership structure.

They excluded Pandya and Axar Patel notably from the vice-captaincy discussions. Speaking at a press conference, Rohit said, "The tactics are very clear in my mind. Once we take the field, it's all about what I do. That's the kind of trust we have in each other."

The omission of Pandya and Patel from the vice-captaincy role sparked debate. Even before the squad announcement on January 18, former cricketer Dinesh Karthik expressed his surprise regarding the matter.

He told Cricbuzz, "I don't know why Hardik was stripped of his vice-captaincy. He has done well in the bilaterals where he was the vice-captain." Pandya's impressive record as captain in T20Is and ODIs further fuels the intrigue surrounding this decision.

Axar Patel, another contender for the role, was also overlooked despite his consistent performances. Patel had previously served as vice-captain during the T20I series against England but has now been relegated to a regular player in the squad.

Fitness remains a critical issue. Jasprit Bumrah, named in the squad, is still recovering from a back injury and may not participate. "We are not sure if Jasprit Bumrah will play or not," said Rohit Sharma. Mohammed Shami, coming off a long layoff, will bolster the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh.

Whereas, Harshit Rana has been added as backup for the England ODIs. India's Champions Trophy campaign begins next month in Dubai, where spinners are expected to play a pivotal role. Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar headline the spin department.

India Squad for Champions Trophy 2025:

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah.