Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain of the Indian cricket team, the BCCI confirmed while announcing the squad for the upcoming England series on Saturday, May 24. Alongside Shubman Gill elevation to captaincy, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named the new vice-captain for the Test format.
Shubman Gill takes over from Rohit Sharma, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. Rohit had been leading the Test side since February 2022. Gill’s captaincy will begin with the five-match Test series against England, scheduled to start next month.
The Test series will kick off on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds and conclude with the final match at Kennington Oval in London from July 31 to August 4. This series will mark the beginning of India’s campaign in the 2025–27 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.
Shubman Gill Reacts After Being Named Indian Test Captain
Shubman Gill has a major challenge ahead as he gears up to lead India in his debut Test series as captain. The assignment won’t be easy, with Ben Stokes’ England team known for their dominance at home. Adding to the pressure, India hasn’t won a Test series in England since 2007.
Speaking after his appointment, Shubman Gill called it a “great honour” to be named Test skipper.
“It’s definitely a bit overwhelming. As a young kid, anyone who starts playing cricket dreams of representing India — not just in any format, but in Test cricket. To be given this opportunity is a huge honour. And like you said, it’s a big responsibility. I’m really looking forward to this exciting challenge,” said the right-handed batter.
Shubman Gill also expressed his excitement about the upcoming England tour. “I think the upcoming series in England is going to be a really exciting one. I believe in leading by example — not just through performances, but also through discipline and hard work off the field,” he added.
Shubman Gill is currently focused on the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where he is leading the Gujarat Titans (GT) as captain. He has been in outstanding form both with the bat and in his leadership role. Gill is among the top five run-scorers of the season. Under his captaincy, the Titans have secured a spot in the playoffs and currently sit at the top of the points table with 18 points.