New Delhi: Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has weighed in on India’s ongoing search for a new Test captain following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Speaking on the latest episode of The ICC Review with host Sanjana Ganesan, Shastri suggested that the team should focus on grooming young talent rather than burdening star pacer Jasprit Bumrah with captaincy duties.
“Jasprit would have been the obvious choice after the Australia series,” Shastri said. “But I do not want Jasprit to be made captain and then you lose him as a bowler.” The 31-year-old Bumrah has led India in three matches, including a memorable 295-run victory over Australia in Perth, but he has also faced challenges including a back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy final in Sydney. After missing nearly three months of cricket, including India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, Shastri emphasized the importance of Bumrah focusing on his fitness and bowling workload rather than the added pressures of captaincy.
Instead, Shastri backed young batsmen Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant as India’s most promising captaincy prospects. “You groom somebody, and I would say Shubman has looked very good. Give him the opportunity. He is 25, 26 years of age, even give him time,” Shastri said. “There is Rishabh as well. I think these two are the obvious ones I am looking at because of their age, and they have a decade ahead of them. So, let them learn.”
Both Gill and Pant already have valuable leadership experience, having captained their Indian Premier League franchises — Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants respectively — which Shastri believes adds to their suitability for the role. “They have got experience as captains now, captaining their franchise, and that makes a difference,” he noted.
Shastri also addressed concerns about Gill’s overseas form, which has been under scrutiny. In 15 away Test matches, Gill has averaged 27.53 with just one century and two fifties. However, Shastri remained confident in Gill’s abilities, praising his temperament and class. “You people will talk, he has not scored runs overseas… let him play, let him get a run overseas, then he’ll score runs. He’s a class player,” said Shastri.
Gill has also served as India’s ODI vice-captain and led the team in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he scored 170 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 125.92. Shastri believes Gill has a bright future ahead, saying, “He has a decade of cricket ahead of him for the country. And I am sure he will get cracking in one of the tours, he will make up for all those runs he’s not got earlier.”
As India looks to rebuild its Test leadership, Shastri’s endorsement of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant offers a clear direction focused on youth, longevity, and nurturing talent for the future.
