Shubman Gill Appointed as India's New Test Captain Ahead of England Series

Ajit Agarkar has announced Shubman Gill as the new captain of India's Test cricket team for the upcoming series against England, with Rishabh Pant as his deputy. This decision has sparked discussions, especially following Virat Kohli's supportive Instagram post praising Gill's achievements. At just 25, Gill is one of the youngest captains in recent history, despite limited experience in Test cricket. He has previously led in T20Is and has impressive stats in his Test career. The full squad for the series has also been revealed, showcasing a blend of experienced and young talent.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 24, 2025, 14:42 IST

Announcement of the Squad

In Mumbai, Ajit Agarkar, the Chairman of the India Men's Senior Selection Committee, revealed the squad for the eagerly awaited five-match Test series against England. Shubman Gill has been named the new captain of the Test team, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant stepping in as his vice-captain.

Virat Kohli's Support

Amidst debates regarding the decision to appoint Gill as captain, an old Instagram post by former captain Virat Kohli has gained significant attention. In 2023, Kohli praised Gill for his first century in the Indian Premier League at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Gill scored 101 runs off 58 balls for the Gujarat Titans against Sunrisers Hyderabad, making history as the only player to achieve centuries in Test matches, ODIs, T20Is, and the IPL within a single calendar year. Kohli's Instagram message read, 'There’s potential and then there’s Gill. Go on and lead the next generation. God bless you.'

Long-Term Vision for Leadership

Agarkar highlighted the importance of long-term planning in selecting a captain, stating, 'You don't select a captain for one or two series; you have to plan for the longer term. We are hopeful that Shubman Gill will grow into the role over time.' He also mentioned that the batting order, particularly the number 4 position, would be determined by Gill and Gautam Gambhir, noting that Mohamed Sami is currently unavailable due to fitness issues.

Gill's Experience and Stats

At just 25 years old, Gill is among the youngest players to take on this leadership role in recent times. Although he lacks extensive captaincy experience in Test cricket, he previously led India in a five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe in 2024 and has been the captain of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Additionally, he has served as vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is, assisting Rohit Sharma during India's successful Champions Trophy campaign in the UAE in February 2025. In his Test career, Gill has participated in 32 matches, accumulating 1,893 runs, which includes five centuries.

The complete Indian Test squad for the series against England is as follows: 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.