The decision to make Gill vice-captain has met with some backlash from fans and experts.
While most of the picks were on the expected lines, certain calls of the team management met with some backlash from fans and experts, including the appointment of Shubman Gill as vice-captain.
However, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed the decision, saying that Gill seems to be the player who is certain to play almost every match.
“I don't want to go into whether the decision is right or wrong but the point that was taken was right. He was the vice-captain in the last series and he has also been given the post sometimes in Test matches as well, although I could be wrong there,” said Ashwin on his Youtube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’.
Most of the criticism around the decision was based on Shubman Gill’s poor showing in the recently held Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. However, the fact also remains that Gill boasts a stunning record in ODIs, averaging 58.20 in 47 innings with six centuries.
In fact, the lanky right-hander also averaged 43.30 in Test cricket last year, showing that he is capable of doing well in the longest format as well.
According to Ashwin, the move to hand over the deputy role to Gill has been taken keeping the future in mind.
"This is a very futuristic call. They are looking at who could be the leader in the future. Now you said Axar Patel is vice-captain in T20s. (But) there can be a competition between Axar Patel and Jadeja for the same spot. Between Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, the latter is the incumbency keeper. Rishabh and KL could both play together as well. But the player who is 100 per cent going to be there in the eleven has been made the vice-captain.
“The stability is good at the moment and if for some reason Shubman has to captain in the future, then he can lean on people like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah - there are many people,” Ashwin remarked.
India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The ODI series against England, starting on February 2 in Nagpur, will be a final dress rehearsal for the Men in Blue ahead of the ICC tournament.