Youngest Test skipper since Kohli, Gill to lead India into a new era in red-ball cricket
It’s a historic transition in Indian cricket as 25-year-old Shubman Gill has been appointed captain of the Indian Test team ahead of the high-stakes England tour beginning June 20. The announcement was made on Saturday as the BCCI unveiled a revamped squad for the five-Test series that also marks the start of India’s ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Following the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Gill’s coronation signals a generational shift in Indian cricket leadership.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed Gill’s elevation to the top job, making him the youngest Test captain since Virat Kohli took charge in 2014. Acknowledged as the heir apparent, Gill has prior leadership experience, having captained India in T20Is and led Gujarat Titans in the IPL with considerable success. This leadership acumen, combined with his composed demeanor, has earned him the trust of selectors, teammates, and fans alike
Gill made his Test debut in 2020 during the memorable Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Since then, he has played 32 Tests, amassing 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05, including five centuries. As India turns a new page in Test cricket, he will be supported by rising stars such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, vice-captain and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and seasoned campaigners like Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah.
India’s tour of England will see Tests played at iconic venues — Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval — from June to August.
The series is more than just another overseas challenge; it represents a bold step into a new phase of Indian cricket. Gill’s captaincy begins under the weight of expectations but with a vision of continuity and progress.
India’s squad for England Tests:
Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akashdeep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav