Shardul Thakur Discusses New Test Leadership Ahead of England Series

As India prepares for a five-match Test series against England, Shardul Thakur discusses the contrasting personalities of the new Test captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant. With the series set to take place from June to August 2025, Thakur highlights the unique strengths each player brings to the team. The squad also sees the inclusion of Abhimanyu Easwaran and emerging talents following the retirements of key players. This series marks a significant moment for Indian cricket as it transitions into a new era of leadership.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 29, 2025, 02:09 IST

India's New Test Leadership Dynamics

New Delhi, May 28: As India gears up for a five-match Test series against England, star all-rounder Shardul Thakur has shared insights on the distinct personalities of the newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant.

On Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Shubman Gill as the new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant stepping in as his deputy for the upcoming series.

In a conversation with Boria Majumdar on Revsportz, Thakur remarked, “Both are exceptional players and represent the future of Indian cricket. Their personalities are quite different—Shubman is serious and composed, while Rishabh brings a lively and humorous energy. This diversity is their unique strength. They have both made significant contributions on major platforms, showcasing their potential as key players for India’s future.”

The series against England is scheduled from June to August 2025, featuring matches at iconic venues including Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord's (London), Old Trafford (Manchester), and The Oval (London).

India has included Abhimanyu Easwaran in the Test squad. A seasoned player in domestic cricket for Bengal, Easwaran has played 101 first-class matches, accumulating 7,674 runs at an impressive average of 48.87, including 27 centuries and 29 fifties. However, his recent tour to Australia was less successful, where he managed only 36 runs across four innings.

With the retirement of Virat Kohli from Test cricket, promising talents like Sai Sudarshan and Karun Nair have been added to strengthen the middle order.

In the bowling lineup, Jasprit Bumrah will lead the attack in England, supported by Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Shardul Thakur.

This series marks India's first bilateral engagement following the recent retirements of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket.

India's Test squad for the England series includes: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav.