Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar announced Shubman Gill as India’s 37th Test captain for the five-match series in England starting 20 June, with Rishabh Pant named vice-captain.
This marks a generational shift following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket earlier this month.
The selectors chose 25-year-old Gill for his maturity, batting prowess, and temperament, recognising his leadership in T20Is and with Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
Agarkar noted, “You don’t pick captains for just one tour. We’ve seen enough progress and leadership potential in Shubman.”
The BCCI posted on X, “Say Hello to #TeamIndia’s newest Test Captain”
Pant’s elevation comes after a remarkable return from injury and consistent performances with the bat and gloves.
The selectors considered Jasprit Bumrah for leadership but ruled him out due to workload concerns, while they overlooked KL Rahul for long-term plans.
The Test squad includes a mix of young talent and experienced campaigners.
Karun Nair returns to the Test side after seven years, rewarded for his prolific Ranji Trophy season.
Promising left-hander B Sai Sudharsan earns his maiden call-up after excelling in domestic cricket, including a double hundred this year.
Abhimanyu Easwaran, a dependable name in India’s first-class circuit, is back despite a lukewarm tour of Australia.
Also joining the squad are pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep, while veteran Mohammed Shami misses out due to fitness issues.
Agarkar emphasised the importance of workload management. “Bumrah won’t be playing all five Tests. His presence in three or four games will still be vital,” he said, adding that the team management will assess opening combinations once in England.
The squad’s balance reflects India’s intent to groom the next generation while maintaining competitiveness in the ICC World Test Championship cycle.
India’s tour of England is set from 20 June to 4 August, with Tests scheduled at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
India will be aiming to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007.
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
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