Shubman Gill Appointed as India's 37th Test Captain Ahead of England Tour

In a significant move, Shubman Gill has been appointed as the 37th Test captain of India, succeeding Rohit Sharma. The BCCI confirmed this decision during a recent selection committee meeting, where Rishabh Pant was named as the vice-captain. The squad for the upcoming series against England features a mix of experienced and young players. Gill, at just 25, is one of the youngest captains in recent history, despite limited captaincy experience in first-class cricket. This appointment signals a strategic shift for the Indian team as they prepare for the new World Test Championship cycle. Read on for more details about the team and Gill's leadership journey.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 24, 2025, 14:26 IST

Shubman Gill Takes the Helm as Test Captain

Shubman Gill has been named the 37th Test captain of India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed this decision during a senior selection committee meeting held in Mumbai on May 24. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, along with BCCI Secretary Devjeet Saikia, convened to finalize an 18-member squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 at Headingley. Rishabh Pant has been appointed as Gill's deputy for the England tour.

The Selected Team

The squad includes Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav.

Gill's Leadership Journey

Gill succeeds Rohit Sharma, who retired from Test cricket in May. Notably, Gill was chosen over Jasprit Bumrah, who has captained India in three Test matches, including two during Rohit's absence in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. At just 25 years old, Gill is among the youngest players to take on this role in recent years, despite lacking captaincy experience in the red-ball format. He currently leads the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League and has captained in only five first-class matches.

In addition to his captaincy, Gill has served as the vice-captain in ODIs and T20s. He was Rohit Sharma's deputy during India's victorious Champions Trophy campaign in the UAE in February 2025. In Test cricket, Gill has played 32 matches, scoring 1,893 runs, including five centuries. His elevation to captaincy reflects a forward-thinking decision by selectors, aiming for long-term stability as the team transitions into a new World Test Championship cycle.