Shubman Gill Appointed India’s New Test Captain for England Tour; Joins an Elite List

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named Shubman Gill as the captain of the Indian Test team. This marks a generational shift in leadership. He has replaced Rohit Sharma who retired along with Virat Kohli. The 25-year-old will lead the side during the upcoming five-match Test series in England starting June. He will be stepping into the shoes of Rohit Sharma.

Rishabh Pant has been named as the vice captain. Pant has been an important player in the test team. He has contributed immensely in home and away tours.

India’s Squad for England: Key Inclusions and Omissions

The BCCI named an 18-member squad for the marquee tour. Notable inclusions include the returning Karun Nair, uncapped Sai Sudharsan, and all-rounder Shardul Thakur. However, the squad misses out on experienced names like Mohammed Shami and Sarfaraz Khan.

Full Squad:

Shubman Gill (c),Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, 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,Shubman Gill Joins Elite List

At 25 years and 258 days, Shubman Gill becomes the fifth-youngest Test captain in Indian cricket history — joining an elite group that includes:

• Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi – 21 years, 77 days
• Sachin Tendulkar – 23 years, 169 days
• Kapil Dev – 24 years, 48 days
• Ravi Shastri – 25 years, 229 days
• Shubman Gill – 25 years, 258 days
• Ajit Agarkar: ‘We Are Hopeful We Picked the Right Guy’

India’s chief selector and head coach Ajit Agarkar backed the decision, citing Gill’s maturity and growing leadership presence in recent years.

“Over the last year or so, we have looked at Shubman at various times. He’s a terrific player and we are hopeful we’ve picked the right guy,” said Agarkar.

On the batting order, Agarkar remained non-committal, suggesting flexibility with players like Karun Nair, KL Rahul, and Sai Sudharsan capable of filling various top-order slots.

Shami Ruled Out, Arshdeep Earns Test Call-Up

Pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of contention due to medical advice. The selectors have chosen not to risk him. In his absence, Arshdeep Singh has been handed a maiden Test call-up. He will be joining a fast-bowling unit that includes Bumrah, Siraj, Prasidh, and Akash Deep.

Kuldeep Yadav returns as the lone frontline spinner, while all-rounders Jadeja, Sundar, Thakur, and newcomer Nitish Reddy provide balance to the squad.

The Road Ahead

Gill will be leading a transitional Indian side. The England series will not only test his captaincy credentials but also mark the beginning of a new era post the Rohit-Kohli-Ashwin generation. The squad blends youth with experience and promises an exciting contest in challenging English conditions.

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