- Sunday, May 25, 2025
At 25 years of age, Gill will be India’s fifth youngest Test captain after Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (21), Sachin Tendulkar (23), Kapil Dev (24) and Ravi Shastri (25)
By: India Weekly
THE INDIAN selectors picked up batting star Shubman Gill on Saturday (24) to lead India’s test squad and steer through a “massive transition” phase as team heads to a five test match tour of England next month.
At 25 years of age, Gill will be India’s fifth youngest Test captain after Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (21), Sachin Tendulkar (23), Kapil Dev (24) and Ravi Shastri (25).
The five-match series against England will begin on June 20 in Leeds.
“Last year or so we have looked at Shubman (for leadership). We are hopeful he is the guy who is going (to take the team forward). It is a high pressure job but he is a terrific player. We wish him all the best,” said chief selector Ajit Agarkar after announcing the 18-member squad in Mumbai.
The selectors’ decision on the team’s leadership was on expected lines following the retirement of senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom called it quits within a week of each other earlier this month.
Apart from the vacuum left by the two batting stalwarts, the Indian squad will also face a major void in the bowling department for the England tour as both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have been deemed unfit.
Agarkar said Bumrah does not have the clearance from the medical staff and physios to feature in all five Tests of the England series.
Shami too was deemed not fit enough for the long series.
“His workload is not where it needs to be. We were hoping he will be available but it is unfortunate. At the moment he is not fully fit,” Agarkar said.
Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant will be Gill’s deputy for the England tour.
“Pant is one of our best batters in Test cricket over the last four-five years. A wicketkeeper can see the game well and that’s why he is Shubman’s deputy,” Agarkar added while explaining the 27-year-old Pant’s role.
Young left-hander B Sai Sudharsan and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh earned their maiden Test call-up.
“Sai has not been picked based on IPL, he has shown the right temperament and has the game to succeed at the top level…we have been looking at him for a while,” Agarkar said, referring to Sudharsan’s fine IPL form.
The squad also features Karun Nair, who returns to the national set-up after eight years. Having last played in 2017, Nair was dropped from the team soon after becoming the second triple centurion in Tests from India.
From the tour of Australia, Harshit Rana and Sarfaraz Khan have been dropped.
