Shubman Gill Named India’s 37th Test Captain for England Tour; Rishabh Pant Appointed Vice-Captain
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially named Shubman Gill as India’s 37th Test captain ahead of the highly anticipated 5-match Test series against England, beginning June 20 at Headingley. The decision was announced following a senior selection committee meeting led by Ajit Agarkar and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.
At 25, Gill becomes one of the youngest Test captains in recent years. Rishabh Pant, returning to form after a long injury layoff, has been named the vice-captain for the series. The selectors emphasized a long-term vision, backing Gill’s leadership potential and dressing room impact.
The 18-man squad also includes debutants Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh, while Mohammed Shami has been left out due to fitness concerns. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Abhimanyu Easwaran have been retained.
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar said, “We are hopeful we have picked the right guy. Gill is a terrific player and has shown promising leadership signs.”
Despite limited red-ball captaincy experience, Gill’s appointment signals a generational shift as India begins a new World Test Championship cycle, following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
