BCCI and Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has announced the rising Indian superstar Shubman Gill as a new red ball skipper for the England tour 2025. This appointment of Shubman Gill marks a new transition in Team India for the new WTC cycle from 2025 -27.
In what ultimately proved to be a formality, Shubman Gill was named as Rohit Sharma’s successor following a meeting of the selection committee at the cricket board headquarters at Wankhede Stadium. Shubman Gill will be India’s 37th Test captain. His deputy for the England tour will be Rishabh Pant.
Shubman Gill’s elevation to Test captaincy marks the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket, coming in the wake of Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format. Alongside Rohit Sharma , who had led India since February 2022, fellow stalwarts Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin have also bid farewell to Tests since the start of India’s last Test series.
India’s newly-appointed Test captain Shubman Gill will bat at no. 4 in the opening match of the five-Test series against England, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant confirmed on Wednesday. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping away from the longest format ahead of this tour, two massive vacancies opened up in India’s batting order, and Shubman Gill is set to occupy the position long held by Kohli.
New role in the batting position for Shubman Gill’
After starting his career as an opener in the Test side, this will be the third role that he will take in the batting order. Shubman Gill moved to No.3 after Cheteshwar Pujara wasn’t considered for selection after the World Test Championship final in 2023. Shubman Gill scored 1019 runs in 17 matches with three hundreds to his name. The responsibility now for the 25-year-old will be to replace Kohli at No.4. The Indian star batter scored 7564 runs in 98 Tests from the No.4 spot at an average above 50.
Shubman Gill, who has led the Indian team in T20Is during their tour of Zimbabwe last year, has long been viewed as a leader-in-waiting, and will now assume full charge in Test whites. His shift to No. 4 has largely aligned with expectations and India will hope that it retains the stability to a batting order in transition. The No. 4 spot, once considered immovable during Kohli’s era, now finds its successor in a batter known for his calmness, flair and adaptability.
Rishabh Pant has confirmed that Shubman Gill will be batting at No.4 for the first Test against England in Headingley, starting from June 20. Shubman Gill is all set to take over from Virat Kohli as India’s new No.4 as the new look side will start life after the retirement of Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Tests.
Shubman Gill is going to bat at No.4- Rishabh Pant
Shubman Gill has been batting at No.3 for India in the past few years after taking the role from Cheteshwar Pujara. Speaking about taking up the role from Kohli at the press conference before leaving for the tour, Shubman Gill suggested that a decision will be made once they reach England. This has now been confirmed by Rishabh Pant, while he addressed reporters on Wednesday.
Speaking at the press conference, the wicketkeeper-batter said that discussions are still going on about who’s going to play at No.3, but the No.4 and No.5 spots are now fixed. Rishabh Pant said that he will stick to playing at No.5 and discussions are going on about the rest of the batting order.
“I think there is still discussion going on, who’s going to play at No. 3 but definitely 4 and 5 are fixed. I think Shubman is going to bat at No. 4 and I’m going to stick to No. 5 as of now, and the rest, we’re going to keep on discussing about that,” said Rishabh Pant.
Rishabh Pant, who is also the vice-captain, has batted at no.5 throughout India’s 2024/25 Test season. Ahead of the first Test, many opined that Karun Nair could be India’s new no.5, with Rishabh Pant shifting to sixth spot; however, the wicketkeeper-batter has quashed those speculations.
What remains unresolved, however, is the puzzle around the No. 3 spot. Karun Nair, who forced his way back into national reckoning with a glut of runs in domestic cricket and then topped it off with a stunning double hundred in the tour match against England Lions, is a frontrunner.
His return to the Indian setup has been among the most talked-about comebacks in recent times, and he seems primed to slot in at one of the top three positions. However, India’s decision could hinge on whether they hand a debut to left-hander Sai Sudharsan, who earned his maiden Test call-up on the back of consistent performances across formats.
If Sudharsan is picked in the XI, it may force India to rethink their middle-order configuration. Given Karun Nair’s traditional role as a top or middle-order anchor, it is unlikely the team management would push him down to no. 6, which would be an unfamiliar territory. That dilemma makes the no. 3 selection all the more crucial, especially with England’s bowlers expected to exploit the early movement at Headingley.
The five-match Test series against England will start from June 20 to July 4 and will be played in five venues for nearly two months.The first Test will be played in Leeds, then in Birmingham before moving to London’s iconic Lord’s, and the last two Tests will be played in Manchester and The Oval.
Also Read: ENG vs IND : Shubman Gill Appointed Test Skipper For Red Ball