Robin Singh backs Gill’s rise, sees India as strong Asia Cup favourites

Dubai: India will enter next month’s Asia Cup as firm contenders, says former all-rounder Robin Singh, pointing to the team’s enviable depth and the rise of vice-captain Shubman Gill, now widely seen as the ‘Prince of Indian cricket’.

Singh, who has tracked India’s progress closely, believes Gill’s calmness and maturity have stood out in the past year. “He’s done exceptionally well, especially in England. His skills and technique have improved, and he looks more assured as a performer,” Singh observed. For him, Gill’s elevation is symbolic of a wider trend — India’s bench strength is so vast that even major tournaments spark debates over omissions.

“Today most of the top players can adapt across formats. The IPL has given them all T20 exposure, so it’s always difficult to leave anyone out,” Singh said, noting that the internal competition itself is a driver of India’s success.

India head into the Asia Cup as defending champions after lifting the previous edition in a 50-over format. Yet Singh feels rankings and recent results matter more than past labels. “They are right up there with the best. Their away Test success in England showed how strong this core group is,” he said.

Still, the selectors faced headaches leaving out proven performers such as Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar and Mohammed Siraj, while teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi remains on the sidelines despite calls for early promotion.

India open their campaign against hosts UAE, a nation Singh knows well from his years as national coach. He underlined the significance of their appearance on such a high-profile stage.

“For UAE, this is all about exposure. There’s nothing to lose — they just need to go out, play positive cricket, and see where they stand. In T20s, one good performance from an individual can change a match,” he said.

During his tenure, Singh helped lay the foundations for home-grown cricketers, overseeing a shift from import-heavy squads to a stream of players produced through the UAE system. “It has had a huge impact. Earlier, many senior overseas players filled the ranks, but now you see plenty of youngsters who have come through locally,” he said.

According to Singh, the challenge is less about infrastructure and more about raising coaching standards. “UAE has good facilities. What’s needed is better direction and a more efficient coaching structure to guide players from a young age,” he explained.

He recalled with pride guiding UAE to the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, where they claimed their maiden win in the competition against Namibia. UAE, in recent times, have beaten Test-playing nations like Afghanistan, New Zealand, Ireland and a series-win against Bangladesh.

That same conviction is behind Singh’s latest initiative — the Robin Singh Relations Cricket Academy, officially launched in Dubai on Tuesday. The academy will also support a scholarship programme to identify and groom outstanding talent.

“There’s a huge need here. Interest in cricket is very high, but children need proper direction. We are focusing from the age of seven onwards, and if someone shows promise even earlier, we are open to that,” Singh said.

Singh and his team will personally mentor standout prospects, providing specialised training and clear pathways to higher competition. He sees this as the missing link in ensuring UAE’s emerging players can compete with established cricket nations.

“This is not about starting something new; it’s a continuation of what I’ve always believed in — building systems where players can grow with the right support,” Singh said.

As India prepare for another Asia Cup campaign and UAE gear up for their chance on the continental stage, Singh’s dual perspective — as a former India stalwart and long-time UAE coach — offers rare insight. For him, the details that shape careers, whether in Gill’s batting at the top level or a 10-year-old learning the game in Dubai, will ultimately define cricket’s future.