The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on February 19, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the Indian squad for the event. Shubman Gill has been named vice-captain of the team, serving as Rohit Sharma’s deputy, and may also take over the captaincy in the future. However, former Team India cricketer and current expert Harbhajan Singh believes that making Gill the vice-captain has complicated the playing XI selection. Bhajji had hoped for in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal to be included in the team at any cost, but with Gill as vice-captain, it has become difficult for Jaiswal to find a spot in the playing XI.

Harbhajan Singh expressed his concerns on his YouTube channel, stating, “One problem has arisen: it will now be difficult for Yashasvi Jaiswal to be included in the playing XI because Shubman Gill is your vice-captain. Gill will open the innings as the vice-captain. You can’t move him to number three, because then Virat Kohli would have to drop to number four. Where does that leave Shreyas Iyer? You’ve made the selection process more complicated. I believe Jaiswal should be played because when someone is in form, they should be used.”

Harbhajan Singh Defends Shreyas Iyer’s Place in Playing XI

When Bhajji was asked if Jaiswal could replace Shreyas Iyer in the playing XI, he clearly disagreed. Harbhajan Singh praised Iyer as the best middle-order player, emphasizing that it’s impossible to leave him out of the team.

He added, “No, Shreyas Iyer has an average of 47-48, the guy is deserving… he scored 300 runs in the World Cup. Now you want to bring him into the team and ask him to sit out? There’s probably no better player than him in the middle order. He knows how to build an innings. I believe Yashasvi Jaiswal should play, but the team selection is now a puzzle.”

Harbhajan Singh Suggests Delay in Gill’s Vice-Captaincy Role

The former Indian spinner believes that Gill could have been named vice-captain after the tournament. He said, “If Shubman Gill had not been made vice-captain, Yashasvi Jaiswal would have played. Jaiswal would have opened with Rohit, Kohli would have been number three, and Iyer would have been number four, followed by the rest of the batting lineup. Now that Gill is vice-captain, I don’t think he’ll be left out. In the next few months, Gill could take on the captaincy. He could have waited for this tournament, but I’m happy for him. However, if Yashasvi had played, he would have contributed significantly.”