"Marketing and business narrative" - Robin Uthappa opens up on Shubman Gill's Asia Cup selection

India is preparing for the Asia Cup 2025, which will be their first T20 international competition since the England series in February of this year. One notable name from the squad announcement was Shubman Gill. Gill's selection and appointment as vice-captain, despite not having played in this format for more than a year, clearly indicate his position in the starting lineup.

Shubman Gill was a major surprise when the Board of Control of Cricket in India revealed the 2025 Asia Cup roster. The young cricket player was named the team's vice-captain. Former cricket player Robin Uthappa exposed the BCCI's deception a few days after the Indian board made the decision. According to Uthappa, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's "form-first" narrative was untrue. Gill was chosen, according to Uthappa, because it had a business and marketing narrative.

"They have caused an issue for themselves by bringing Shubman into this whole process of including him in T20 cricket. But I also think from an Indian cricket perspective, at all kinds of eras, you have always had superstars and they have backed a particular player for the sake of Indian cricket, and I think that narrative is continued to be followed right now," Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.

He further mentioned, "I think the marketing and business narrative also takes precedence, and I think that is also a part, which is why he is also brought in. You want certain superstars to take the game forward. Shubman is going to be one of them."

Some have been startled by Gill's decision, particularly as an opener, given how aggressive and powerful Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have been as an opening duo. Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector for the BCCI, claimed that Gill was India's vice-captain in 2024 but was unable to play due to his workload in other formats. Uthappa responded that this was just another example of the BCCI's promotion of star culture, which they were apparently working to remove.

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