Shubman Gill Named Captain of India’s New-Test Era Ahead of England Series

MUMBAI, India — The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Saturday that Shubman Gill will lead the Indian men’s Test team, marking a new era in Indian cricket. The 25-year-old replaces Rohit Sharma, following Sharma’s retirement earlier this month.

Gill, who has played 32 Tests and scored 1,893 runs, will captivate the national side in their upcoming five-match Test series against England starting June 20. He has previously captained India in T20Is and was under consideration for Test captaincy after significant contributions to his team in various formats.

Ajit Agarkar, India’s chief selector, discussed Gill’s appointment at the press conference, stating, “He’s very young but we’ve seen the improvement. We are hopeful that he’s the guy.” Agarkar expressed optimism about Gill stepping into the pressure-filled role.

Alongside Gill, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was named vice-captain. Pant has played a crucial role in India’s red-ball success in recent years, including significant performances in away series.

India has turned over a new leaf following the retirements of cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Their absence from the upcoming Tests against England signifies a shift in maturity and experience within the squad.

Key omissions from the squad include fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who is recovering from injury. The selectors have included players like Karun Nair, returning to the team after an eight-year absence following impressive domestic performances, along with promising newcomers such as Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh.

The squad will participate in preparatory matches against India ‘A’ starting May 30, allowing the players to adapt to English conditions before they face the challenge of the Test series.

The first Test will be held at Headingley in Leeds, where India aims to secure a series win after their last visit there in 2021-22 concluded in a draw.