Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : India has entered a new chapter in its Test cricket history with Shubman Gill named as the new Test team captain. The announcement was made by Ajit Agarkar, chairman of selectors, during the squad reveal for the upcoming five-Test series in England starting June 20.
Rishabh Pant will serve as vice-captain, returning to leadership duties following his recovery and comeback into the national setup.
Gill Takes Over After Rohit, Kohli, and Ashwin’s Retirements
Gill’s elevation comes after the retirement of Rohit Sharma, who led India in Tests since 2022. Veterans Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin have also stepped away from Test cricket, signaling a new era for India’s red-ball team.
At 25 years and 258 days, Gill becomes India’s fifth-youngest Test captain, joining elite company:
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi – 21 years
Sachin Tendulkar – 23 years
Kapil Dev – 24 years
Ravi Shastri – 25 years
Why Not Bumrah?
Agarkar clarified that Jasprit Bumrah was not considered for captaincy as he is unlikely to play all five Tests due to workload management.
India's Full Test Squad for England Tour
Squad:
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav
Key Inclusions:
Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh get maiden Test call-ups.
Karun Nair returns after a strong domestic season.
Shardul Thakur also recalled for his value in English conditions.
Notable Omissions:
Mohammed Shami, ruled out due to injury concerns.
Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Harshit Rana were not selected.
Selectors’ Perspective on Gill’s Leadership
“We’ve monitored Shubman for a while. He’s shown leadership growth, especially in the IPL with Gujarat Titans, and we believe he’s the right choice to take Indian Test cricket forward,” said Ajit Agarkar.
Agarkar didn’t confirm Gill’s batting position but indicated flexibility with players like Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan capable of batting at No. 3 or No. 4.
Bowling Composition and Fitness Update
Bumrah, Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh form the pace battery.
Kuldeep Yadav returns as the primary spinner.
Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, and Shardul Thakur add all-round depth.
Agarkar noted that Shami has suffered a setback during fitness recovery. Recent MRIs confirmed he is unfit to handle five-Test workload, and hence, wasn’t considered.
Test Series Schedule: India in England 2025
1st Test – June 20, Headingley, Leeds
2nd Test – Edgbaston
3rd Test – Lord’s
4th Test – Old Trafford
5th Test – The Oval
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