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Shubman Gill Named India’s New Test Captain Ahead of England Tour
Top-order batter Shubman Gill has been appointed as India’s new Test captain, succeeding the recently retired Rohit Sharma.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Gill’s appointment in a press conference, along with the 18-member squad for the upcoming five-Test series against England, scheduled to begin in June.
“We discussed every option over the past year and sought extensive feedback from the dressing room. Shubman is young but has shown consistent improvement. We believe he’s the right choice. He’s a terrific player, and we wish him all the best,” said Indian selector Ajit Agarkar.
Gill, a right-handed batter, has played 32 Tests for India, scoring 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05, including five centuries. He has also previously captained India in the T20 International format, leading the side in a five-match series against Zimbabwe in July 2024.
His first assignment as full-time Test captain will be the tour of England. With the recent retirements of senior players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian side will feature a fresh look for this tour. The series will also mark the start of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Notably, pacer Mohammed Shami has been left out of the squad.
Senior players such as KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj will support Gill as the experienced core of the team. The squad also includes promising talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Akash Deep, who have been part of the India setup in recent years.
Returning to the squad is Karun Nair, who earned his spot with strong performances in domestic cricket. Another notable inclusion is opener Sai Sudarshan, who has impressed with his recent form in domestic and IPL matches.
India’s 18-member squad for the England Test series:
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
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