India, Sept. 1 -- This is how Shubman Gill's extraordinary T20I career curve for India looks so far. He made his debut against Sri Lanka in the first week of 2023 and within a month had an unbeaten hundred against New Zealand at a strike rate of 200. It preceded a string of single-digit scores bookending a 47-ball 77 against West Indies in an audacious chase of 178 that was clinched with three overs to spare. By July 2024, he was named vice-captain even though he only made it to the reserves for the T20 World Cup in June. England came calling earlier this year but Axar Patel was appointed vice-captain.

And now, not exactly out of nowhere, Gill is again the vice-captain. Runs and only runs have made this possible. Third highest scorer for...