In a landmark decision, Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new captain of India’s Test team, succeeding Rohit Sharma, who recently announced his retirement from red-ball cricket. At just 25 years old, Gill will lead a restructured and youthful Indian side in the highly anticipated five-Test series against England, which begins on June 20 in Leeds.
Joining Gill in the leadership group is Rishabh Pant, who returns to the side as vice-captain following a successful comeback to international cricket. Pant’s resilience and form have earned him the trust of the selectors as India looks to build a solid core for the future.
The squad, revealed by chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, reflects a mix of youthful energy and seasoned experience. However, the exclusion of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami stands out as one of the biggest talking points. Agarkar clarified that although the selectors were eager to include Shami, he was declared unfit by the medical team due to insufficient workload readiness.
There are also some surprising returns and exciting debuts in the squad. Middle-order batter Karun Nair makes a return to the Test setup after last playing in 2017. Promising youngsters Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy have received their maiden Test call-ups, indicating a clear intent by the selectors to invest in emerging talent.
Premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will not play all five matches in the series. Agarkar noted that Bumrah’s workload will be managed closely by the team’s support staff to ensure his fitness throughout the tour.
The team also includes Dhruv Jurel as the second wicketkeeper, while Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur provide valuable balance as all-rounders. Kuldeep Yadav is the only specialist spinner in the squad alongside all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
🇮🇳 India’s Test Squad for England Series:
Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav.
This marks the beginning of a new chapter in Indian Test cricket, as the team transitions under young leadership with fresh faces looking to leave a mark on the international stage.
