Shubman Gill is reportedly set to take the reins as captain of the Indian Test team following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the longest format. According to PTI, the right-hand batter is the frontrunner for the coveted role, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant likely to be named his deputy.
Rohit Sharma, who led India in Test cricket, announced his retirement on May 7 after an illustrious 11-year career spanning 67 Tests. His departure comes ahead of India’s tour to England, which marks the beginning of their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle from June 20. Rohit amassed 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties, concluding his Test career as India’s 16th-highest run-scorer in the format.
While Jasprit Bumrah was initially considered a strong contender for the Test captaincy, recurring injury concerns have seemingly diminished his prospects. Similarly, middle-order batter KL Rahul, at 33, was deemed a less suitable long-term leadership option due to his age.
Meanwhile, the India A squad for the upcoming England tour was announced on May 16, featuring several promising talents. Karun Nair, who enjoyed an exceptional domestic season, has been rewarded with a spot in the squad. The India A team, led by Bengal stalwart Abhimanyu Easwaran, will play two first-class matches against England Lions at Canterbury and Northampton on May 30 and June 6, respectively. Their tour will culminate in an intra-squad match against the senior Indian team on June 13 at Beckenham. Easwaran, with a wealth of first-class experience, will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing tour of Australia last year.
The India A squad includes: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC) (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, and Harsh Dubey.
(With ANI Inputs)
