Shubman Gill (left) has replaced Rohit Sharma as India's Test captain.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named 25-year-old Shubman Gill as India's Test captain for the upcoming five-match Test series against England.
Gill, who has played 32 Tests for India since his debut on December 26, 2020, against Australia, has replaced Rohit Sharma, who announced his retirement from the longest format of the game earlier this month, as India's Test skipper.
Gill's journey to the top post in Indian Test cricket is quite interesting. Not too long ago, he was struggling to cement his position in the Indian team. However, the stylish right-handed batter strengthened his place in the side as a reliable top-order batter by showcasing his immense potential. It is this potential that prompted the BCCI to appoint him as a long-term captain.
Gill's ascendancy to the India Test captaincy came at a time when he led Gujarat Titans to the IPL playoffs, amplifying the team's chances of winning the T20 league. Displaying his calm and composed demeanour and his ability to communicate effectively with teammates, Gill emerged as a natural solution for the BCCI.
He has also shown his ability to soak up pressure and lead his team from the front, scoring 636 runs from 13 matches at an average of 57.82. With both Rohit and Virat Kohli announcing their retirement from Test cricket, the Indian board saw an opportunity to groom a young captain with many years of cricket ahead of him.
'Plan for the Longer Term'
Gill's ability to adapt to all three formats also worked as a factor behind his graduation to Test captaincy. Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of Indian selection committee, said they chose Gill as a long-term solution for India captaincy while also seeing him as the team's future limited over captain.
"You do not select a captain for one or two series, you have to plan for the longer term. We are hopeful that he [Shubman Gill] will learn with time," Agarkar told the media while addressing the press conference.
"Shubman Gill is the guy we feel is a three-format player. Has shown a lot more qualities over the last year, that’s what we hear from the dressing room. He has shown some decent leadership qualities. We want to try and give him the experience," he added.
Gill’s appointment over pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as Test captain came down to a few key factors - most notably, Gill's youthful exuberance and Bumrah’s recurring fitness and workload concerns. Moreover, Bumrah is now 31. While KL Rahul could have been an option, he is already 33.
The BCCI perhaps refrained from naming Rishabh Pant - a veteran of 43 Tests who has won India many matches from the jaws of defeat - as captain, given his patchy form since making a comeback to cricket after surviving a car accident. Pant also failed to shine as a captain for Lucknow Super Giants.
'Gill's Selection Bodes Well For India': Saba Karim
While Bumrah briefly captained India during the two Tests Rohit Sharma missed in Australia, his participation in several matches of the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is expected to be limited due to workload management. Earlier, it was reported that Bumrah would not play all five matches in England, as the BCCI wants to use his expertise wisely to prevent injuries.
Saba Karim, former national selector, was spot on. “You have Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant. Considering this is the start of a new WTC cycle, I would go with a young, talented leader - Shubman Gill," Saba told JioStar.
"Although he’s yet to fully establish himself at the Test level, I’d like to see the selectors make a bold move. We've seen his leadership skills in the shorter format with GT, and he seems to be in a very happy space when leading. That should bode well for India," he stated.
