Shubman Gill has officially been named the 37th Test captain of the Indian cricket team, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming the decision during the senior selection committee meeting held in Mumbai on Saturday. The 25-year-old replaces Rohit Sharma, who stepped away from Test cricket earlier this month, signalling a significant generational shift in Indian cricket.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel, alongside BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, announced an 18-member squad for the highly anticipated five-match Test series against England, set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.
Gill, a prolific batter with 1,893 Test runs in 32 matches, including five centuries, has now been entrusted with leading a young Indian squad into the next phase of the World Test Championship cycle. Despite limited red-ball captaincy experience, selectors see his appointment as a long-term investment.
“You don’t pick a captain for just one or two series. We have to think long term,” chief selector Ajit Agarkar said. “Shubman has made a significant impact in the dressing room and has shown promise in various formats.”
Rishabh Pant Named Vice-Captain, New Faces in the Squad
Rishabh Pant, who has made a remarkable comeback after his near-fatal car accident in 2022, has been named the vice-captain for the England tour. The selectors also handed Test debuts to young talents Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh, reflecting India’s strategic focus on youth.
Notably, Mohammed Shami was excluded from the squad due to fitness concerns, while Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj retained their places. India A skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran also found a spot, having been with the squad on previous tours.
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Gill may be young, but he has gathered meaningful leadership experience in recent years. He captained India in a T20I series in Zimbabwe in 2024 and led Gujarat Titans in the IPL. He has also served as the vice-captain during India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign in UAE earlier this year.
However, in first-class cricket, Gill has captained just five matches, winning only one with Punjab. Critics remain cautious, particularly due to his inconsistent Test record in challenging overseas conditions. In SENA countries and the West Indies, Gill has managed only 559 runs in 13 matches at an average of 25, with just two half-centuries since his iconic 91 at Brisbane in 2021.
India’s Test Squad for England Tour
The squad includes Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), and Kuldeep Yadav.
Gill’s elevation comes amid a broader transition in Indian cricket, following retirements and exits of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rohit Sharma from the longest format. With a young core and a new leadership group, the team is poised to redefine itself in the new World Test Championship cycle.
As India prepares for a grueling five-Test challenge in England, all eyes will be on Shubman Gill to demonstrate not just his skill with the bat but his capacity to inspire and lead the next generation of Indian cricket.
