Shubman Gill: Young Opener Named Captain For England Tour

Photo: ICC

India-West News Desk

MUMBAI – India’s Test cricket landscape took a new turn on May 24, as selectors handed the leadership reins to 25-year-old Shubman Gill ahead of the upcoming five-Test series in England, starting June 20. The decision follows a major generational shift, with both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from the longest format earlier this month.

Gill’s elevation signals a new era, but one shaped carefully—with selectors opting against loading additional responsibility on fast bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, despite his leadership experience and seniority.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was clear: India needs Bumrah the bowler more than Bumrah the captain.

“There’s always that extra burden when you’re leading and managing 15-16 people,” Agarkar said at a press conference in Mumbai. “It takes a lot out of you. We’d rather have him bowling at full tilt than carrying the added weight of captaincy.”

Bumrah, who led India in two Tests in Australia, was consulted in advance and accepted the decision, Agarkar added. “We had a chat with him, and he’s okay with it.”

The Gujarat Titans skipper, who has earned plaudits for his maturity in the IPL, now steps into the most demanding leadership role in Indian cricket—Test captaincy. “You can look at it as a burden, or you can look at it as an opportunity,” said Agarkar. “He’s relished captaincy in franchise cricket. Of course, Test cricket is a bigger challenge—but he’s been around for two to three years in all formats. He can draw from that.”

Agarkar backed the young opener to grow with the job. “I’m sure he’s excited. Who wouldn’t want to lead India in Tests?”

Gill will also lead India into a new World Test Championship cycle—an added layer of pressure and promise.
Rishabh Pant, fresh off his comeback in the IPL, has been named Gill’s deputy—an endorsement of his maturity and impact. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav is the only specialist spinner in the squad, while Mohammed Shami misses the tour with an injury.
The squad features a mix of youth and comebacks: Sai Sudharsan could make his Test debut, while Karun Nair—who last played a Test in 2017—has earned a recall. Nitish Kumar Reddy, a promising all-round option, also features.

Test Squad vs England:

Shubman Gill (capt), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Druv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav