India’s Test captain Shubman Gill has been included in the squad for the Asia Cup in September, a T20I tournament that serves as the first major build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Gill has been named Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy.

“Last time when he played T20 post the World Cup, when we went to Sri Lanka, he was vice-captain. That’s where we started a new cycle for T20WC. After that we got busy with Test cricket, and he didn’t get opportunities. We’re happy to have him,” said captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Check out the full squad here – India team for Asia Cup

The decision comes on the back of Gill’s prolific run in IPL 2025, where he scored 650 runs at a strike rate of nearly 156, reinforcing his credentials as one of the most destructive top-order batters in the competition.

Gill had been out of India’s T20I plans since August 2024. He was only a travelling reserve for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies — the last time India picked a full-strength squad in the format — and has since seen Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson establish themselves as the preferred opening pair.

Asked if Gill is an automatic pick for the playing XI, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said, “The captain and coach will take the call on the best balance for the team. Once we get to Dubai, we will have a bit more clarity. More options are available now; Shubman has been in great form anyway the last few months. So has Sanju, so two good options, along with Abhishek.”

The 25-year-old has hit a purple patch in other formats. He broke records as a batter while leading India to a 2-2 draw in England in his debut Test series as captain and was central to India’s run to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and its Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year.