New Delhi: As India prepares for a fresh chapter in Test cricket following Rohit Sharma’s impending retirement from the format, young batter Shubman Gill has emerged as the frontrunner to take over the captaincy. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, selectors are leaning towards the 25-year-old as a long-term leader, especially with the upcoming five-Test series in England starting June 20 marking the beginning of the new 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s impressive performances, including 32 wickets in five Tests during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), concerns about his workload have led selectors to reconsider his suitability for the leadership role. Bumrah, who returned to action in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after recovering from a stress-related lower back injury, is viewed as a critical asset across formats and may be rested during some matches for injury prevention.
While Bumrah did captain India in two Tests during the BGT — once in Rohit’s absence for the birth of his child and again when Rohit opted out due to form — his role as vice-captain is now seen more as a supporting leadership function rather than a stepping stone to the full-time captaincy.
Shubman Gill, on the other hand, has steadily grown into a leadership role, having captained India in five T20Is against Zimbabwe and currently leading the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Under his captaincy, GT has bounced back strongly this season with eight wins from 11 matches, after a disappointing 2024 campaign.
Gill’s Test record since debuting in the 2020-21 BGT series includes 1,893 runs in 32 matches at an average of 35.05, with five centuries and seven fifties. However, his away form remains under scrutiny, having averaged just 27.53 in overseas conditions with only one century to his name.
The push for a younger, long-term captain comes at a time when Rohit’s leadership had already been under question due to his declining form. During the 2024-25 Test season, Rohit managed only 164 runs in 15 innings and oversaw series losses at home against New Zealand and away to Australia — setbacks that cost India a place in the WTC final.
Other leadership options such as KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have experience, with Kohli still holding the record for most Test wins as Indian captain (40 in 68 matches). However, the selectors appear to be focusing on grooming fresh leadership for the future.
The final decision is expected later this month when the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee meets to pick the squad for the England tour.
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