Shubman Gill has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Rohit Sharma as India’s next Test captain, with the five-match Test series against England starting June 20 at Headingley set to mark the beginning of the new era.
Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this week, prompting the selectors to look for a long-term leader as India begins its next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Why Gill Over Bumrah or Rahul?
While Jasprit Bumrah is the official vice-captain of the Test side and has led India in two Tests during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the team management and selectors are cautious about assigning him the full-time role due to:
- His workload as an all-format pace spearhead
- Recent back discomfort that kept him out of early IPL 2025 matches
Other senior players like KL Rahul and Virat Kohli were also in the mix. Rahul has captaincy experience in three Tests, and Kohli was the long-time captain before Rohit. However, both are seen as short-term options, whereas Gill offers youth, form, and leadership potential.
Gill’s Leadership Journey So Far
Though Gill has never captained in Tests or ODIs, he led India in five T20Is during the Zimbabwe tour in 2024, where many senior players were rested after the T20 World Cup win.
He is currently the vice-captain in both white-ball formats and has shown promise leading Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025, taking over from Hardik Pandya. His growth as a leader and consistent performances have impressed the selectors.
Gill’s Test Career at a Glance
- Test debut: Dec 2020 vs Australia (Melbourne)
- Matches played: 32
- Runs scored: 1893
- Average: 35.05
- Centuries: 5
- Fifties: 7
Gill has been a regular feature in India’s Test squad since debuting in the memorable Melbourne Test win under Ajinkya Rahane.
What’s Next?
The Indian Test squad for the England tour is expected to be announced later this month, when the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel meets. With India seeking stability and a long-term vision for the next WTC cycle, Gill is likely to be entrusted with the top job.
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