Shubman Gill replaced Rohit Sharma as Test captain after Jasprit Bumrah informed the selectors that he would only be available for three or four out of the five Tests due to his injury and workload issues. 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.
The appointment of Shubman Gill marks a new transition in Team India for the new WTC cycle from 2025 -27. India will take on England in a five-match Test series from June 20, and this marks the start of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
Shubman Gill – successor of Rohit Sharma in Test cricket as Captain
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.
At 25 years and 258 days, Shubman Gill becomes the fifth-youngest cricketer to captain India in Tests, behind Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (21 years, 77 days), Sachin Tendulkar (23 years, 169 days), Kapil Dev (24 years, 48 days), and Ravi Shastri (25 years, 229 days).
Taking from where Rohit Sharma left following his recent retirement announcement from India’s test cricket, the Men in White will now be led by Shubman Gill. BCCI named the 25-year-old young talent as India’s new Test cricket captain. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been selected as vice-captain for the upcoming five-match Test series against England.
The announcement, made on Saturday by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, marks a significant new chapter in Indian cricket. Shubman Gill becomes one of the youngest players to lead the Test side, with selectors expressing strong faith in his temperament and leadership potential.
“Last year or so, we have looked at Shubman for leadership. We are hopeful he is the guy to take the team forward. It is a high-pressure job but he is a terrific player,” said chief selector Ajit Agarkar
India’s Test captaincy post was vacant after Rohit Sharma’s sudden retirement from the longest format earlier this month. Even though Jasprit Bumrah had led India in a couple of Test matches in Rohit’s absence during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, the selectors put their faith on Gill for the leadership role.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has offered his unique take on Shubman Gill’s appointment as the Indian Test captain, saying that it will be pleasing to certain “Brown Sahibs” since the Punjab lad is well versed in English. In his column for mid-day, Gavaskar claimed that there was a period in Indian cricket when the ‘powers that be’ considered having a good grasp over English as a necessary qualification to become the team captain.
Sunil Gavaskar impressed with Jasprit Bumrah’s selfless attitude
The BCCI’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as India’s new Test captain continues to divide opinions. While a section of the public and Indian cricket fraternity embraced the decision – such as Kapil Dev – another bunch feels it’s too early for the youngster to be given the mantle of captaincy.
Shubman Gill is just 25, having played all of 32 Test matches for India, and truth be told, his average of just a shade above 35 is reckoned by many not captaincy-deserving. Anil Kumble, in an indirect message to the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, said Gill first needs to cement his place in the Test team as a batter, while Virender Sehwag went a step ahead and called Rishabh Pant the ‘second-best’ option for captaincy, pushing Gill down to No. 3.
As for the No. 1 pick, Sehwag’s vote went to Jasprit Bumrah. Why Because for the longest time, the Indian pace spearhead was considered Rohit Sharma’s successor. He stepped up to lead the team when Rohit missed the rescheduled fifth Test against England at Edgbaston in 2022 and again during the Perth Test against Australia.
In the same series, when Rohit opted out of the Sydney Test and Bumrah took over, he was on track to take over the captaincy permanently when the time came. Unfortunately, a recurring back injury derailed those plans. Reflecting on the leadership transition, Sunil Gavaskar provided insights into how and when the decision was finalised.
“The fact that that total team-man and selfless-cricketer named Jasprit Bumrah informed the selectors that since he may not be able to play all Test matches because of his back issue, the selectors could zero in at Gill as the new India captain, made the selection even easier,”
“Make no mistake, Bumrah will be at hand for Gill to lean on to and he will also undoubtedly lead the bowling group as they try and plot the English batters’ dismissals,” the former India captain wrote in his column for Mid-Day.
Gavaskar’s overall assessment of the squad is music to the ears of all Indian fans. The Little Master reckons the side is well-balance; however his only concern revolves around the itinerary. India and England play the first Test from June 20, with the next four being played across 33 days. That’s 45 days for all five Tests with little time to relax in between matches, and hence; Gavaskar welcomed BCCI’s decision to pick back-up players, especially bowler, who can come in handy.
“The Indian team looks well balanced, and now with BCCI having enough funds, the selectors’ jobs are a bit easier as they can pick 18 instead of the 16 that most other teams choose. So, they have taken six new-ball users plus Nitish Reddy who can bowl lively medium pace.
“Yes, the tour is a cramped one with five Test matches in six weeks and so there will be need for net bowlers as the Test bowlers would need some rest after the efforts in the back-to-back Test matches,” added Gavaskar.
However, questions have been raised over his batting form in Tests, especially overseas. The 25-year-old averages a decent 35.05 in 32 Tests, but his average plummets to 14.67 in three Tests on English soil. Shubman Gill is currently captaining the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 where his side has already made it to the Playoffs.
Post whatever happens in IPL Skipper Shubman Gill is expected to joing the India A squad for a practice game vs England Lions before the all important England tour which begins on June 20 at Leeds as Indian test team begins its new transition in a new era.
Also Read: ENG vs IND : Shubman Gill Appointed Test Skipper For Red Ball