Shubman Gill Poised to Succeed Rohit Sharma as Test Captain
Shubman Gill's Ascendancy in Indian Cricket
Emerging young talent Shubman Gill is being considered as the leading candidate to replace Rohit Sharma as the Test captain of India, especially following Sharma's retirement from the long-format game. This transition is expected to take place during the upcoming five-Test series in England scheduled for June.
Reports suggest that Gill's appointment as captain is becoming increasingly likely. Jasprit Bumrah, who has captained India in two Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and achieved a remarkable 32 wickets in five Tests, may miss several upcoming matches due to workload management and injury prevention.
The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is set to convene later this month to finalize the squad ahead of the first Test at Headingley on June 20. With the series marking the start of a new World Test Championship cycle for 2025-27, selectors are keen on appointing a long-term captain, and Gill, at just 25 years old, fits that profile.
The discussion around Rohit's successor had already begun prior to his retirement announcement, as he had been experiencing a decline in form. During the 2024-25 Test season, he managed only 164 runs across eight Tests, with just one half-century. His leadership also faced scrutiny after India suffered a historic 3-0 defeat at home against New Zealand last year and a 3-1 loss in the Australia series, which ultimately led to India's exit from the WTC final race.
Bumrah, who is currently the vice-captain, stepped in to lead the team during two Tests when Rohit was unavailable due to personal reasons and later opted out due to his poor form.
However, concerns regarding Bumrah's workload as a key pace bowler and his recent return from a lower back injury during the IPL have raised questions among selectors.
In the last Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series held in Sydney, KL Rahul led India in three Tests, securing two victories and one loss. Virat Kohli previously held the captaincy for a significant period, winning 40 out of 68 matches before Rohit took over.
Although Gill has not captained India in Tests or ODIs, he has experience leading in T20Is, having captained the team in five matches against Zimbabwe. He has also served as vice-captain for India and has been at the helm of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL since 2024, following Hardik Pandya's return to the Mumbai Indians. This season, the Titans are performing well, currently leading the table with eight wins and three losses, a significant improvement from last season's struggles.
Since making his Test debut during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne, Gill has established himself as a regular player, amassing 1,893 runs in 32 Tests at an average of 35.05, including five centuries and seven fifties. However, his performance in away matches remains a concern, as he has scored 716 runs in 15 Tests at an average of 27.53, with only one century and two fifties.