Robin Uthappa's Bold Prediction: Shubman Gill Won't Become All-Format Captain, Backs Shreyas Iyer for T20Is

Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has delivered a surprising verdict on Shubman Gill's captaincy future, arguing that despite leading India in Tests and ODIs, the 26-year-old won't become an all-format captain anytime soon. Instead, Uthappa has backed Shreyas Iyer to lead India in T20Is, suggesting Gill still needs to cement his place in the shortest format before any talk of unified leadership.

The Current Leadership Structure

Gill currently holds captaincy in two formats—Tests (appointed in May 2025) and ODIs (appointed in October 2025)—while serving as vice-captain to Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is. Many observers, including legend Sunil Gavaskar, have predicted Gill will soon consolidate all three formats under his leadership. However, Uthappa disagrees strongly.

Uthappa's Reasoning

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa explained why he believes Gill's all-format captaincy isn't inevitable.

"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."

The crux of Uthappa's argument centers on Gill's T20I struggles. During the Asia Cup 2025, Gill failed to make a significant impact as Abhishek Sharma seized the opening position with explosive performances. This leaves the second opener slot wide open, with competition from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson.

The Competition Factor

Uthappa highlighted the intense competition Gill faces in T20Is:

"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."

This competition means Gill must first secure his playing XI spot before any captaincy discussion becomes relevant. Uthappa's message is clear: performance trumps potential, and Gill's T20I credentials aren't yet established.

Why Shreyas Iyer?

Uthappa's suggestion of Shreyas Iyer for T20I captaincy raises eyebrows, given that Iyer isn't currently in India's T20I setup. However, Iyer has proven IPL leadership credentials with Kolkata Knight Riders, guiding them to the 2024 title. His middle-order solidity and tactical acumen make him a viable alternative if selectors decide Suryakumar Yadav's tenure should end after the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Vice-Captaincy Doesn't Guarantee Succession

Uthappa also dismissed the notion that being vice-captain automatically leads to captaincy:

"Honestly, vice-captaincy in India doesn't mean very much… Like, you've seen a bunch of vice-captains not becoming captain, right?"

This observation reflects Indian cricket history, where several vice-captains—including Rahul Dravid at various points and Ajinkya Rahane—never received full-time leadership roles despite long stints as deputies.

The Counterargument

While Uthappa's skepticism has merit, others point to Gill's impressive start as Test captain—754 runs at 75.40 average in the England series—and Rahul Dravid's prescient 2021 prediction that Gill would become India's all-format captain. With only limited ODIs scheduled before the 2027 World Cup, the BCCI appears committed to building around Gill long-term.

Conclusion

Uthappa's contrarian view challenges the prevailing narrative about Gill's inevitable all-format captaincy. His emphasis on earning spots through performance rather than expecting automatic progression reflects cricket's merit-based realities. Whether Gill consolidates T20I leadership or Shreyas Iyer emerges as an alternative, the coming months will reveal if Uthappa's prediction proves accurate or if Gill defies skeptics to become India's unified leader across all formats.