Right-handed batter Shubman Gill has been named India’s 37th Test captain, as announced by chief selector Ajit Agarkar on Saturday. This decision comes ahead of India’s crucial five-match tour to England, beginning June 20. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will serve as vice-captain for the series.
Agarkar led the selection committee meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, where the 18-member squad was finalized. He remarked, “We discussed every option over the last year. We’ve observed Shubman at various times and taken feedback from the dressing room. He is very young, but there’s been improvement. We’re hopeful he’s the guy. You don’t pick captains for one or two tours; we’ve seen progress over the last year or two with him.”
Gill steps into the captaincy role following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket earlier this month. In his 32 Test appearances, Gill has amassed 1,893 runs at an average of 35.1, including five centuries and seven fifties. His prior leadership experience includes guiding the Indian team to a 4-1 T20I series win in Zimbabwe last year and serving as the vice-captain during the victorious 2025 Champions Trophy campaign in Dubai.
At just 25, Gill has captained in first-class cricket only five times, recording one win, two losses, and two draws. Currently, he leads the Gujarat Titans, who are at the top of the IPL 2025 points table and poised for the playoffs. His teammates and coaching staff have praised his proactive approach, calm demeanor, and tactical acumen.
Karun Nair returns to the Test squad after a seven-year absence, while Arshdeep Singh and B Sai Sudharsan earn their first Test call-ups. Notably absent is veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who is sidelined due to fitness concerns. Agarkar explained, “He’s had a setback over the past week and underwent MRIs. His workload isn’t where it needs to be, so we opted for players who are fit and available.”
Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir will assess the batting lineup once they reach England, considering the opener position after their arrival. Agarkar also indicated that Jasprit Bumrah may not play all five Tests due to workload management, emphasizing his importance as a player over assuming leadership responsibilities.
India’s Test series against England runs from June 20 to August 4, with matches scheduled at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval. The Indian team aims to secure a Test series victory in England for the first time since 2007.
India’s squad for the England Tests includes Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain & wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/05/24/gill-appointed-as-indias-new-test-captain-for-england-tour-pant-named-vice-captain/
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Publish Date: 2025-05-24 16:06:00
