With the retirement of cricket veterans like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin and the beginning of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship, it is a pivotal moment for the Indian cricket team. In the midst of this Shubman Gill takes charge as the new team captain for the Indian Test team. The 25-year old has been appointed as the 37th Test captain as India. They are set to face off England in a five match Test Series from 20th June 2025.
Shubman’s appointment as the captain for the Test series was confirmed by the BCCI on 24th May. Followed by Rishabh Pant as the deputy captain. Although he has limited experience in the domestic red-ball leadership, Shubman has shown immense potential. From captaining Gujarat Titans in the IPL and as the vice captain in limited over formats
Young but Uncompromising Leadership
The selection was widely supported within the cricket circles. Harbhajan Singh, a former spinner has praised that the team has a young mind leading it but has also cautioned that England will present a tough challenge to play test cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar urged patience and asked to give Shubman Gill a full test season before judging him.
Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who worked with current captain at IPL level shared an enthusiastic praise for Gill, “He communicates clearly… he’s got conviction in his thoughts… a strong leadership quality.”
The Batting Order: Filling the Kohli Void
As Rishabh Pant sticks to number 5 Gill is now set to drop down one spot and fill the void that will be left after Kohli. While the the lineup will be discussed and maybe changed there is a high possibility that Gill bats at number 4 in-stead to Kohli. Shubman Gill has a test average of 35 which includes 5 centuries in 32 matches.
The current squad for the test series is an interesting lineup of young as well as experienced players.
- KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair, Abhimanyu Easwaran,
- Then the spin trio: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav,
- And a pace attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep, and Shardul Thakur
Strategy & Team Balance
Ahead of the opening Test at Headingley, Leeds, there’s buzz about India’s flexible XI: whether to include two spinners or adapt the pace attack to English conditions England, captained by Ben Stokes who commits to his his aggressive Bazeball style says that resilience is the key. India’s strategy under Gill’s leadership seems to balance stability and youth—cementing their spot in the WTC while nurturing emerging talent.
Defining Challenges & Expectations for Shubman Gill
Gill’s Test captaincy comes with high expectations and equally significant hurdles:
- Filling big shoes – Kohli and Rohit’s departure leaves a void in both leadership and run-scoring consistency.
- Overseas adaptability – Gill’s overseas average shows vulnerability; England’s swinging conditions could test him harshly.
- Leadership transition – He faces immediate scrutiny; any early series losses might erode confidence. Experts advise patience and support .
- World Test Championship – This series opens the new WTC cycle, giving it long-term significance
Early Signals & Support System
Meanwhile, the dressing room has shown solidarity. Former captain Ravi Shastri and senior players like KL Rahul, Jadeja, and Bumrah are confident about Shubman’s leadership and are giving him his required time. Veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara trained with the squad in Leeds to lend moral support.
What to Watch in the Five Tests
- Gill’s form as a batsman-captain: Can he anchor the innings while managing captaincy responsibilities?
- England’s attack vs India’s depth: Will Bumrah, Siraj, and pace trio handle English conditions effectively?
- Young guns stepping up: Look for breakthroughs from Sudharsan, Marlins of spin options, and the pace reserves.
- English counter‑attack: With Stokes at the helm and talent like Pope, Brook, Woakes, and Tongue, England won’t go down without a fight .
Read more such articles at SportifyNest