Shubman Gill likely to become India’s new Test captain
Shubman Gill has emerged as the leading contender to captain India in the upcoming five-Test series against England. With Rohit Sharma announcing his retirement from Test cricket, there is growing momentum behind Gill — currently Rohit’s deputy in white-ball formats — to take over the reins.
The Ajit Agarkar-led panel is understood to be planning a long-term leadership transition. With Jasprit Bumrah unlikely to be available for all five matches, the selectors are keen to groom a younger captain under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At 25, Gill is one of the few Indian players to feature regularly across all three formats. He has also led Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League for the past two seasons, earning praise from team-mates for his calm and composed leadership, particularly under pressure.
Gill has experience batting both as an opener and at No. 3 in Test cricket. In 32 matches, he has scored 1,893 runs, including five centuries and seven fifties.
The selection committee is expected to meet in Mumbai around May 17 to finalise the squad, and striking the right balance will be a key challenge. While sources have not ruled out KL Rahul as a potential option, the 33-year-old’s long-term prospects remain uncertain. With a new World Test Championship cycle set to begin, the selectors are reportedly inclined to give Gill an extended run, aiming to build a younger core around him.
