Cricket: Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill Eyed As Potential Replacements for Sharma as India Test Captain?
Gill, Pant Emerge As Frontrunners for India Test Captaincy
After a tough run of results, including their first Test series loss at home in over a decade against New Zealand before a poor showing at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, there were plenty of rumours that India were set to replace Rohit Sharma as captain for the tour to England next month.
Sharma has also been struggling with his own form in the five-day format, scoring just one half-century in his last 12 innings, and before a final decision around the captaincy was made, the 38-year-old opted to call time on his career in the longest format of the game over the weekend.
Jasprit Bumrah led the Men in Blue in Sharma’s absence in Australia and was widely expected to take up the role following Sharma’s departure, but it is understood that he has made selectors aware that he may not be able to play all five games against the Three Lions due to his workload management.
As a result, the shortlist of candidates for the Test captaincy is now believed to be led by Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, with the former rumoured to be the favourite. Whichever is not selected is expected to become the team’s vice-captain.
Gill was recently named as India’s ODI vice-captain ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, while he has also impressed many onlookers at the Indian Premier League this season, where he captains the Gujarat Titans, who are one of the most fancied teams to win the competition, according to the best online betting sites.
Another name that came up in recent reports was KL Rahul, but there is an understanding that the Delhi Capitals’ batsman has now been ruled out of contention, given that he is already over 33 years of age and his form has been erratic in recent years.
England vs. India Test Schedule
Despite their recent struggles in the white-ball format, India have been the dominant force in Tests against England in recent years, with the most recent series ending in a 4-1 victory during the Anthony de Mello Trophy at the start of last year.
The Men in Blue drew the Pataudi Trophy series 2-2 in August 2022 in England, while the last time the Three Lions defeated India in the longest format was back in 2018. Below is the match schedule for the upcoming series:
- First Test: June 20 - June 24 - Headingley
- Second Test: July 2 - July 6 - Edgbaston
- Third Test: July 10 - July 14 - Lord's
- Fourth Test: July 23 - July 27 - Emirates Old Trafford
- Fifth Test: July 31 - August 4 - The Oval
India is expected to announce their final squad as well as their new Test captain for their tour to England on May 24.
