With a generational shift in Indian cricket, Shubman Gill is tasked with rebuilding the team’s Test fortress while stepping into the iconic No.4 role.
New Delhi [India], May 25: Shubman Gill has been officially appointed as India’s new Test captain for the upcoming tour of England, marking a significant new chapter in Indian cricket’s storied legacy. The 25-year-old will be India’s youngest full-time Test captain since Sachin Tendulkar in 1996, leading a team in transition after the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli earlier this month.
The official website of the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed Gill’s appointment. With India’s disappointing home series defeat to New Zealand in late 2024 and a heavy loss in Australia, India’s Test fortunes have taken a hit. The team failed to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final, missing out for the first time since the tournament’s inception.
The pressure is now on Gill to steady the ship, especially in the crucial No.4 batting slot long held by Kohli and before him, Tendulkar. Together, they scored over 21,000 runs in Tests at that position, leaving big shoes to fill. Gill, known for his elegant strokeplay and mental toughness, may take on the No.4 responsibility himself.
India’s middle-order puzzle includes contenders like Rishabh Pant—who has played memorable innings in England—KL Rahul, and Karun Nair, making a comeback to the squad after seven years. The battle for the No.4 spot will be pivotal in the coming months.
This transition also affects India’s legendary spin department. The retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin broke the iconic Ashwin-Jadeja partnership that claimed 587 Test wickets together. With Jadeja in the twilight of his career, new names like Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar are expected to shoulder India’s spin legacy. Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, R Sai Kishore, and Ravi Bishnoi could also feature in future plans.
The leadership void left by Rohit, Kohli, and Ashwin—who collectively played 296 Tests—is daunting. Yet, unlike India’s gradual generational change of the 2000s, this shift is swift and demands immediate results. Jasprit Bumrah’s influence in the leadership group is expected to grow, with Pant and Rahul also key figures in the think tank.
India’s next Test challenges include hosting the West Indies and South Africa. Despite being historically strong at home, India’s vulnerability to spin was exposed in a stunning 0-3 loss to New Zealand on home soil, led by Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner. To re-establish their dominance, India will need resilience from the batters and fire from the bowlers.
For Gill, it’s a chance to script his legacy while guiding India through a period of immense change. As he steps into this leadership role, he carries not just the weight of the past, but the hopes of a new era of Indian cricket.