 "Shubman Gill has been named the new captain of the Indian Test team. Image: Reuters")
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced Shubman Gill as the new Test captain of the Indian team. Rishabh Pant was named the vice-captain of the side. The BCCI also unveiled the squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting 20 June.
Gill’s appointment as the new Test captain has created a lot of buzz in the cricket world. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar and former opener Aakash Chopra have reacted to this latest development. Bangar called it a rare opportunity for Gill to shape a team in transition.
“The selectors have chosen a long-term captain at a time when the team is entering a rebuilding phase. It gives him a rare opportunity to establish himself without constantly looking over his shoulder. In Indian cricket, it’s uncommon for someone with limited experience to be given the captaincy,” Bangar told ESPNcricinfo.
“Since 2000, captains like Dravid, Kumble, Dhoni, Virat, and Rohit had played many matches before taking over. Probably only Tiger Pataudi had less experience, and now he becomes the second-youngest in terms of matches played. Best wishes to him for a successful stint,” he added.
Gill’s batting form questioned
Gill, who has played just over 30 Tests, is yet to make a statement with the bat, especially in overseas conditions. Aakash Chopra pointed out that the decision to make Gill the new captain despite not having a good batting average is a leap of faith shown by the selectors.
“If this were ODI cricket, the decision would be easier—he’s been vice-captain for a while and the transition was expected. But in Tests, he’s still finding his place, especially overseas, where his average is around 25. That’s not ideal for a batter, let alone a captain. This move reflects an investment of faith based on potential,” Chopra told ESPNcricinfo.
“We’ve seen something similar with Shubman Gill, who was given the choice to move from opening to No. 3 after just 15 Tests—a decision that felt unusual, as such calls are typically made by team management. He might even bat at No. 4 in the future. The key now is for him to score heavily, especially in this WTC cycle and particularly in the five-Test series in England. If he does that, the focus will shift from his overseas average to his leadership qualities, which is how it should be for a Test captain,” Chopra added.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Shubman Gill will need to create his own captaincy template—one that suits Indian cricket and reflects his personality. He doesn’t need to follow Virat Kohli’s approach of playing five bowlers or opting for turning tracks at home to chase wins. I believe Shubman might prefer more balanced, batter-friendly pitches where victories have to be earned, not handed. Dominating home series won’t be as easy anymore. While captaincy seems to be sitting well with him, the bigger concern is his batting. If that falls into place, everything else is likely to follow,” Chopra said.
India’s squad for England Test series
India’s 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, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav