“I don’t know why Hardik…”: Madan Lal questions BCCI as Shubman Gill named Asia Cup 2025 vice-captain

Former India all-rounder Madan Lal has expressed surprise at the BCCI’s decision to remove Hardik Pandya from the vice-captaincy role for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. The selectors have named Shubman Gill as deputy to skipper Suryakumar Yadav, and reports suggest Gill is being groomed to take over as India’s next T20I captain in the near future.

“(On Gill) I agree with them. I am with the selectors… Kya Kaaran hai usko hataya gaya hai (I don’t know why Hardik Pandya has been removed). But Gill is a good choice as he is performing well. In the coming time, it is possible that Gill will play in all three formats,” Madan Lal told ANI.

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“Sometimes you feel surprised that a player like Yashasvi Jaiswal is not in the team. Jaiswal, anyway, plays attacking cricket. He even plays brilliantly in Test matches. I don’t know, they’ve given him rest or they are looking at something, and like that,” he added.

Former India batter Mohammed Kaif has welcomed Shubman Gill’s return to the T20I side as vice-captain, but he admitted the move could make it harder for Sanju Samson to secure a place in the playing XI.

Gill’s comeback to the shortest format, after spending more than a year focused on Test cricket and ODIs, became one of the biggest talking points from the squad announcement. His appointment as vice-captain all but guarantees him a spot in the starting lineup, which could force changes in a top order that already features Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said about Samson, “I think Sanju Samson’s place in the XI is tough. Like they said, when the team reaches the UAE, they will see how the teams and players are performing. In that way, the XI will be made. If Sanju Samson cannot come in the top 4, which I believe at the moment. There will be Gill and Abhishek Sharma to open. Tilak Varma will play at number three; his record is brilliant for India. And Suryakumar Yadav will come in at number four.”

( With ANI Inputs )