India, June 8 -- For the third time in the last eight months, the BCCI selection committee has picked a different T20I vice-captain, with at least two of those appointments appearing to be part of a longer-term plan. Shubman Gill was handed the role ahead of the T20 World Cup and was widely seen as a potential successor to Suryakumar Yadav, only for the think tank to abandon that project before the home tournament. Axar Patel then replaced him as vice-captain for the World Cup campaign. Now, Tilak Varma has been entrusted with the responsibility for India's upcoming three T20I assignments - against Ireland, England and at the Asian Games.

Unlike previous appointments, however, Tilak's elevation appears to be part of a broader leadership ...