Who will take over as the next India Test captain?

Dubai: Rohit Sharma’s Test career ended not with a bang but a post — an Instagram farewell that closed one chapter and opened another. With the World Test Championship cycle restarting, India now face a bigger question: who inherits the mantle of leadership?

The five-match Test series against England in June is India’s first step in their new WTC campaign, and the stakes are already high. After falling short in the previous edition, the Men in Blue will be eager to chart a course back to the final.

Jasprit Bumrah led India in the final Test of the recent Australia series after Rohit stepped down following a string of poor performances. But the fast bowler’s leadership ambitions suffered a major blow when a back injury sidelined him for four months, ruling him out of India’s triumphant Champions Trophy campaign in Dubai.

Virat Kohli, who gave up the captaincy in 2021 after being removed as white-ball skipper, is also unlikely to take on the role again. At 36 and going through a lean patch in the longest format, Kohli would prefer to focus on his batting. Still, he remains a dependable option — he stepped in to lead India during the second innings in Sydney when Bumrah was off the field.

All signs now point to Shubman Gill, recently appointed vice-captain ahead of the Champions Trophy. At 25, Gill is one of the few players who feature consistently across all three formats, and he appears primed for a bigger role.

“Gill is a classy player. There was never a doubt about his ability in this squad,” Rohit Sharma told the media before India’s Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh in Dubai.

“Gill’s numbers have been superb for us in the last three to four years. Obviously, there is a reason he has been elevated as vice-captain of the team. Hopefully, he has a great tournament, and it will eventually help us achieve the things we are looking to achieve.”

With Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee looking to inject fresh blood into the Test side, Gill — currently leading IPL table-toppers Gujarat Titans — has emerged as the front-runner to take over as Test captain.