Shubman Gill appointed India’s new Test captain
Men in Blue begin England tour on 20 June with revamped squad
DUBAI: India has entered a new era in Test cricket, naming top-order batter Shubman Gill as the captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement.
The announcement came via a press conference by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), marking a significant generational shift in the national team setup.
Gill, 25, has so far represented India in 32 Tests, scoring 1893 runs at an average of 35.05, including five centuries.
Having previously captained the national T20I side during the July 2024 tour of Zimbabwe, Gill now takes over the leadership of the red-ball format. His first full assignment in this role will be the high-profile five-Test tour of England, beginning on 20 June. The series will also launch the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.
India’s Test squad
Following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s squad carries a fresh look. Absent due to fitness concerns is fast bowler Mohammed Shami. However, the team retains experience in the form of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
Among the younger crop are Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Akash Deep – players who have been around the Test setup in recent years.
Who returns and debuts?
The squad also features returning batter Karun Nair, who last played for India in 2017. Nair earned his recall after scoring 863 runs for Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy, leading them to the title. Arshdeep Singh receives a maiden Test call-up, while all-rounder Shardul Thakur and opener Sai Sudarshan also return following strong domestic and IPL performances.
Before the Test series, India will face India ‘A’ in a practice match in Beckenham. Their last tour of England ended in a 2-2 stalemate in the 2021–22 five-Test series.