Players Whom Shubman Gill Can Replace In India's Asian Games Squad 2026

Sooryavanshi could make way for Shubman Gill [Source: AFP]

Shreyas Iyer's appointment as captain has coincided with India's drastic downfall as a T20I team. The Men in Blue showcased remarkable skill and resilience on home soil to win their third title in the format, but they have undoubtedly been far from their best version as a unit on their UK tour. 

A 0-2 series defeat to Ireland, followed by a four-match winless streak in England, sums up India's abysmal journey in T20Is under the Shreyas Iyer regime. 

India batters' failure in England sparks Shubman Gill's T20I comeback talks

The failure of India's batting unit in challenging conditions has been a key reason behind their disastrous show on English soil. The Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has vanished, with the teenager registering only 42 runs across three innings. 

The likes of Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma have also disappointed the Indian team, scoring only 79 and 125 runs on the UK tour.  

In fact, several reports suggest that India's squad for the Asian Games 2026 might undergo several changes, with the BCCI seeking balance in the team to win the marquee championship. 

In such a scenario, there are genuine chances of the BCCI selection committee preferring technically sound batters like Shubman Gill over ultra-aggressive players to spearhead the Indian batting in the Asian Games 2026. 

Why BCCI could be tempted to bring Shubman Gill back for Asian Games

Shubman Gill recently had a tremendous IPL season for Gujarat Titans, amassing 732 runs in 16 innings at an average of 45.75 and a strike rate of 163.03. 

Being an excellent player of pace and bounce, Gill can be a genuine match-winner for the Indian team on seam-friendly tracks of Australia and New Zealand, where the next T20 World Cup will be played. 

Gill's red-hot T20 form, superior technical game, ability to anchor the innings with calculated risks and restore stability in the Indian top-order, currently studded with lots of power-hitters, are the factors that can tempt the BCCI selection committee to include him in India's Asian Games squad. 

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3 players whom Shubman Gill can replace in India's Asian Games squad

1. Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson might be the frontrunner to make way for Shubman Gill in India's Asian Games squad. The explosive keeper-batter went out of favour following three middling outings on the UK tour, which saw him add only six to his T20I runs' tally. 

Ishan Kishan is the number one ranked T20I batter and has age on his side; so, the Indian team management could give him the first preference as the wicketkeeper-batter. 

In fact, it was Samson whom India dropped to reintroduce Gill to the T20I setup during the Asia Cup 2025. Also, considering Gill is also a right-handed opening batter, he can be Samson's like-for-like replacement if team India decides to bring the former back in the shortest format. 

2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rose to prominence courtesy of his nonchalant six-hitting prowess in the IPL 2026. The young batter hammered 776 runs and bagged the prestigious Orange Cap, prompting the BCCI selection committee to include him in India's squads for the UK tour and Asian Games. 

However, Sooryavanshi's cheap dismissals in the England T20Is has forced the BCCI to question his ultra-aggressive approach. According to the latest reports, Sooryavanshi is under scrutiny for playing a highly risky brand of cricket. 

So, given that India have Abhishek Sharma as a proven aggressor to capitalise on the powerplay field restrictions, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can make way for Shubman Gill if the BCCI chooses calmness over explosion to restore stability in the Indian batting unit for Asian Games. 

3. Tilak Varma

Experienced batter Tilak Varma has been one of the biggest disappointments for India in the Ireland and England series. The southpaw has been criticised for a below-par strike rate, while also failing to consolidate the fragile middle order with a calculative game. 

Statistically, Tilak Varma has struck 125 runs at an average of 25 and a modest strike rate of 113.63 across six innings on the UK tour. 

Therefore, if India decide to persist with the swashbuckling Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the versatile Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill can get into the Asian Games squad at Tilak Varma's expense. 

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