Is Shubman Gill India's New Test Captain for the England Tour?

Mumbai, May 24 (NationPress) In a significant development, right-handed batter Shubman Gill has been appointed as India’s 37th Test captain. This announcement was made by chief selector Ajit Agarkar on Saturday as he revealed the 18-member squad for the pivotal five-match tour of England, commencing on June 20.

As part of the leadership team, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been designated as the vice-captain. The selection committee, led by Agarkar and convened by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, finalized the roster during a meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, which was later shared in a formal press conference featuring Agarkar and Shiv Sunder Das.

“We evaluated every possible option over the past year, observing Shubman at various stages. We've gathered extensive feedback from the dressing room. He’s young, but his progress has been notable,” Agarkar stated.

“We’re optimistic he’s the right choice. He’s an outstanding player, and we wish him the best. Captains aren’t selected for just one or two tours. We’ve seen growth in him over the past year or two, although it’s undoubtedly going to be a challenging endeavor,” Agarkar remarked regarding Gill’s promotion.

Having played as an opener and number three batter in Tests, Gill steps into the captaincy role following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format earlier this month. With 32 Tests under his belt, Gill has amassed 1893 runs at an average of 35.1, including five centuries and seven fifties.

Previously, Gill has gained leadership experience within the Indian team, notably leading to a 4-1 T20I series victory in Zimbabwe last year and serving as vice-captain during the team’s triumph at the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai. In first-class cricket, he has captained five matches, achieving one win, two losses, and two draws.

At just 25 years old, Gill is currently at the helm of Gujarat Titans, who lead the IPL 2025 points table and are gearing up for the playoffs. His teammates and coaching staff have praised him for his proactive approach, calm demeanor, and tactical acumen.

In the squad, Karun Nair makes a return to the Test team after a seven-year absence, while Arshdeep Singh and B Sai Sudharsan receive their first Test call-ups. Notably absent is veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who Agarkar indicated isn’t fully fit to endure the demands of Test cricket.

“He experienced a minor setback last week and underwent MRIs. He wouldn’t be able to participate in all five Tests. His workload isn’t where it should be. The medical team confirmed he’ll be ruled out. We hoped he could contribute, but we prefer to select fit and available players rather than wait,” Agarkar explained.

Agarkar also mentioned that Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir will determine the batting lineup upon their arrival in England. “They may make decisions regarding the opener once they get there, but they’ll consider it carefully,” he noted.

Furthermore, Agarkar revealed that Bumrah won't participate in all five Tests, emphasizing that the fast bowler is more valuable to the team in his primary role than in a leadership capacity.

“I don’t believe he’ll be available for all five Tests. Whether it’s four or three will depend on the series’ progression and his workload. Even if he’s fit for 3-4 Tests, he’ll be an asset for us. We’re just pleased he’s part of the squad. He’s more critical to us as a player,” Agarkar stated.

“Managing people requires a lot of energy. We’ve discussed this with him, and he’s comfortable with the situation. He understands his physical condition. KL Rahul hasn’t captained recently, but he’s a quality player, and we expect him to perform well. With Bumrah, it’s primarily about managing his workload,” he concluded.

The crucial Test series against England is scheduled from June 20 to August 4, with matches taking place at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval. India aims to secure a Test series victory in England for the first time since 2007.

India's squad for the England Tests: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jasiwal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav.