Following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket, Shubman Gill has emerged as the leading contender to captain Team India in the longest format, according to sources close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Rohit, who announced his retirement on May 7 after a distinguished 11-year Test career, played 67 matches and scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties. His top score of 212 came during a standout home series against South Africa in 2019. He ends his career as India’s 16th-highest run-scorer in Test history.
With Rohit stepping down just ahead of India’s ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle, which begins with the England tour on June 20, the selectors are looking toward youth and longevity—factors that favor the 24-year-old Gill.
Sources indicate that Rishabh Pant is the frontrunner for the vice-captaincy, marking a potential new leadership era for Indian red-ball cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah was briefly considered, but persistent injury concerns have raised doubts about his long-term availability. KL Rahul was another name in the mix, but at 33, his age is seen as a drawback for a long-term leadership role.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway with the announcement of the India A squad for the England tour. The team, led by seasoned Bengal batter Abhimanyu Easwaran, will play two first-class matches against the England Lions and conclude the tour with an intra-squad match against Team India.
India A Tour Fixtures:
- May 30: vs England Lions at Canterbury
- June 6: vs England Lions at Northampton
- June 13: Intra-squad match at Beckenham
Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC & WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey.
With a new era on the horizon, Indian cricket is set for a generational shift—with Gill potentially taking the mantle as Test skipper, signaling a bold move toward youth-led leadership.
