Shubman Gill led India to 2-2 draw against England in a recent Test series.
Fresh from a blockbuster Test series against England, Shubman Gill is set to captain North Zone in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, commencing August 28 in Bengaluru.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar acknowledged Gill's commitment to participate in the Duleep Trophy while also lauding BCCI's decision to prioritise domestic cricket.
"It was good, therefore, to see that after the tour to Bangladesh was postponed to next year, the BCCI resisted the pressure to send a team for a white-ball series to Sri Lanka this month," wrote Gavaskar in his column for Sportstar.
"By doing that, the BCCI have prioritised domestic cricket, as it means that now most, if not all, of the top players will be available to play in the Duleep Trophy tournament starting shortly. Shubman Gill, captaining the North Zone team is a massive shot in the arm for this tournament."
Gill finished the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy as the leading run-getter, amassing a staggering 754 runs in 10 innings, including four hundreds. His stunning exploits helped India drew the series 2-2.
"By being available for the tournament, the Indian skipper is sending the right signal to the other members of the team. It would have been understandable if, after a gruelling tour where five Test matches were crammed in a little over six weeks, he had opted to rest," Gavaskar remarked.
Commenting on the fast bowlers' absence, Gavaskar said: "The fast bowlers not playing is good thinking, as it has been an unusually hot summer in England, thanks to global warming, and their energies must have been expended after the untiring spells they bowled throughout the series."
With the Asia Cup 2025 slated to get underway on September 9 coinciding with the Duleep Trophy, the North Zone squad might be altered if players earn national call-ups.
Currently, Gill's presence is a significant boost for the domestic tournament, setting a positive example for his teammates. Despite his previous experience leading in 10 First Class matches, this responsibility presents a unique challenge in managing a zonal team in knockout competition.