In a landmark decision for Indian cricket, Shubman Gill has been officially appointed as the new captain of India’s Test team, signaling the dawn of a fresh chapter. The announcement came from Ajit Agarkar, Chairman of Selectors for the BCCI, during the unveiling of the 18-member squad for India’s upcoming five-Test series against England, starting June 20, 2025, at Headingley, Leeds.
Joining Gill in a leadership role is Rishabh Pant, who has been named vice-captain and will also serve as one of the squad’s wicketkeepers. The duo is set to guide a team that blends youth with experience, stepping into the shoes of recent retirees Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have exited the Test arena.
Despite his previous stint as Test captain, Jasprit Bumrah was not considered for the role this time. Agarkar clarified that Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Tests due to workload management. “We wanted someone who can commit to the full series,” Agarkar said.
Here’s the full squad for India’s Test tour of England:
Squad:
Notable exclusions include Mohammed Shami, Sarfaraz Khan, Harshit Rana, and Devdutt Padikkal. Shami was ruled out due to a recent injury setback, and according to Agarkar, “his workload is not where it needs to be for Test cricket.”
At 25 years and 258 days, Gill becomes the fifth-youngest player to captain India in Test cricket. He follows:
Although Gill has limited red-ball captaincy experience—with only five first-class matches led, including one Ranji game—he impressed as the captain of Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024, taking the team to the playoffs.
Agarkar praised the selection, saying, “He’s a terrific player and a promising leader. We believe he’s the right person to take Indian Test cricket forward.”
India’s squad shows a strategic shift with:
The top order remains flexible, with Jaiswal and Rahul as openers and middle-order options including Sudharsan, Nair, and Easwaran. Backup wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel also finds a place in the squad.