Shubman Gill Takes Leadership Role: India’s Test Cricket Enters a New Era

One of the toughest foreign Test tours of the Indian team is around the corner (India's tour of England 2025), and it’s a critical time for Indian cricket. The two most experienced players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, have retired from Test cricket, leaving a big hole to fill. Both these players were like the heart and soul of the team. In their absence, there is a huge vacant place that needs to be filled.

In the recent press conference of the BCCI, the national chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, has finally announced India new Test captain 2025 after a series of meetings and discussions with head coach Gautam Gambhir and all the important members of the BCCI. Star cricketer Shubman Gill has taken over India's Test captaincy, which marks the start of a new era in Indian cricket.

Shubman Gill - New Test Captain of India

The selection of the new Test captain of India was a crucial decision that will shape the future of Indian Test cricket. Shubman Gill has been named as the successor to Rohit Sharma in red-ball cricket. He has already served as vice-captain in the ODI format during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and has been leading the Gujarat Titans in the IPL with great maturity.

Despite his lack of experience and form in Tests, Gill’s calmness and leadership skills have prompted the selectors to appoint him as the team's new Test captain. The chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, held a final meeting at the BCCI headquarters before announcing Gill as the team's new Test captain of Indian cricket team.

Shubman Gill Captaincy Record

Shubman Gill captaincy record might not be vast, but he has already shown some promise. He has already led various teams, with Gujarat Titans being the most prominent among all of them. He has often led them from the front and will be expected to do a similar role for the Indian cricket team as well.

Who is Vice Captain of Indian Test Team?

Jasprit Bumrah, who led India in the 2022 Test in England during the recent Australia series, was a strong candidate for the vice-captaincy. R Ashwin praised Bumrah’s calm and composed nature, but concerns about his fitness as a fast bowler made selectors cautious about his long-term suitability. Eventually, Rishabh Pant has been appointed as India's new vice-captain in Tests.

Pant has shown leadership skills as captain of the Delhi Capitals and the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL; however, his recent form both as captain & batter hasn't been that great. But the management has shown trust in his skills and is hoping that he will gain confidence after being appointed as the vice captain of India Test cricket team.

Can Shubman Gill Match Rohit Sharma's Legacy?

Rohit Sharma announced his retirement on May 7, 2025, after a poor run of form, scoring just 10.93 runs per innings in eight Tests this season. He decided to step down as captain and retire from Tests after talks with the BCCI. Rohit scored 4,301 runs in 67 Tests with 12 centuries and led India to 12 wins in 24 Tests. His sudden retirement leaves a hole at the top of the batting order and in the leadership as well.
The upcoming England tour will be a major challenge for the Indian team. With Shubman Gill as the new captain and a revamped batting order, the Indian team is in a transition phase, which is always going to be a difficult time for any captain. Head coach Gautam Gambhir needs to take responsibility for guiding Gill in his new journey as Test captain.

The selectors’ meeting in Mumbai, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has finalised the squad and the new test captain of the Indian cricket team for this important tour. As Indian cricket steps into the new “Gautam Gambhir era”, the main aim is to take forward the legacy of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli while creating a new path to success.