In a surprising turn of events during the IPL, Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket. With India set to tour England for a five-match Test series following the IPL, the big question now looming over Indian cricket is: who will captain the team?
During Rohit’s tenure, Jasprit Bumrah served as the vice-captain and even led the team in two Tests during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. However, there’s uncertainty over Bumrah taking the captaincy for the England series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly hesitant to put that responsibility on Bumrah due to workload concerns. The pacer played all five Tests during the Australia tour and suffered injuries as a result. BCCI may avoid playing him in every match during the England series, which makes his appointment as captain unlikely for now.
The frontrunner for the role appears to be Shubman Gill, who is being groomed as a future leader of Indian cricket. In ODIS, he served as Rohit’s deputy, and in Tests, he has been a regular at No. 3. With Rohit stepping down, the opener’s spot is now open—one Gill might reclaim. At 25, Gill represents a long-term leadership option for the next 8–10 years.
Gill’s recent form in the IPL strengthens his case. He has scored over 500 runs in 11 matches and also has captaincy experience with the Gujarat Titans. The BCCI has previously valued IPL leadership experience, as seen in their decision to consider Gautam Gambhir for the national coaching role based on his mentorship of the Kolkata Knight Riders. So Gill’s IPL credentials could play a role in the Test captaincy decision as well.
Gill has played 32 Test matches, scoring 1,893 runs with five centuries. He’s also featured in 61 first-class games, showcasing his experience and maturity. His composed on-field demeanour and leadership ability have been on display in the IPL, and the BCCI might entrust him with the responsibility of Test captaincy.
Other names like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul have also come up in discussions, but Pant’s poor form makes him a risky choice, and Rahul opted out of captaincy duties even in the IPL. It remains uncertain whether Rahul would want the Test leadership role at all.
With limited viable alternatives, Shubman Gill appears to be the most logical and long-term choice.
