Shubman Gill named India's Test captain for England tour

Dubai: Talented young batter Shubman Gill has been named captain of the Indian Test team as the Men in Blue embark on a new era under newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir.

The 25-year-old Punjab batter will lead a side that blends youth and experience, with Rishabh Pant named vice-captain.

Gill has featured in 32 Tests, scoring 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05 with five centuries. However, there remain question marks over his performance abroad — in 13 overseas Tests, his average dips to 29.50.

The retirements of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have opened the door for Sai Sudharsan, while Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur have earned comebacks in the 17-member squad.

The biggest surprise, however, is the omission of Shreyas Iyer, who was expected to bring valuable experience to the middle order. Sarfaraz Khan, who has been named in India A squad for England, has also been left out.

At 25 years and 258 days, Gill becomes the fifth-youngest cricketer to captain India in Test cricket. While he lacks red-ball captaincy experience, Gill has led India in a five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe in 2024 and has been captaining the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.

He has also served as vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is, including during India’s triumphant Champions Trophy campaign in the UAE earlier this year, where he was Rohit Sharma’s deputy.

“You don’t select a captain for one or two series; you have to plan for the longer term. We are hopeful that he [Shubman Gill] will learn with time,” Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar said at a press conference.

While the squad includes two players — Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul — who have led India in the past, Agarkar explained why Gill was preferred for the top job.

“Bumrah has led us in Australia, but he’s not available for all the Test matches. We wanted him more as a player, and captaincy is always an extra burden — managing 15-16 people. He is an important player for us, so having him fit as a bowler is crucial. He knows where his body is at the moment,” he said.

“With KL, not really… basically, he captained a while back, but I wasn’t there at the time. We hope he has a big series. But regarding Bumrah, having him fit as a bowler is crucial.”

It’s a bold call, but one that aligns with India’s long-term vision. In Gill and Pant, the selectors have entrusted the team’s future to two young players familiar with pressure and success — and now, responsibility.