The able and stable shoulders of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli may have carried Indian cricket’s hopes and dreams for years, but now it’s time for a young Turk — Shubman Gill — to take over from them.
The 25-year-old, India’s new Test captain, is a prodigious talent entrusted with leading the team through perhaps its most challenging transition in over a decade. While the appointment brings hope, it is also a bold gamble. And as India braces for a tough five-Test series in England starting June 20, Gill's mettle will be tested — both with the bat and while wearing the
skipper’s cap.
There is little doubt about Gill's talent with the bat. His elegant strokeplay and calm demeanour have made him a mainstay in the Indian batting order. He’s already played 32 Tests, averaging 35.05 — modest by elite standards, but enough to indicate the makings of a long career. Yet, captaincy is a different beast altogether. It demands more than personal excellence — it calls for vision, authority, man-management, and the ability to take hard calls.
The biggest challenge Gill faces is timing. This appointment does not come cushioned by the comfort of a home series against a lower-ranked team. Instead, he will lead an evolving side in swinging English conditions, where India has historically struggled. The five-match series is not just a stern examination of skills; it is a baptism by fire for a young leader who has never captained a Test match before. His only leadership experience at the international level came during a short T20I series in Zimbabwe — a far cry from what awaits in Leeds, Birmingham, London, and Manchester.
In addition, Gill will have to manage the psychological and tactical dimensions of captaincy without the stabilising presence of some of Indian cricket’s biggest modern-day figures. With Rohit, Kohli, and Ashwin gone, a combined void of 296 Test caps now exists. This vacuum in experience will be hard to fill, no matter how talented the incoming players are.
The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, have shown a long-term vision in picking Gill. “You don’t pick captains for one or two tours,” Agarkar stated, hinting at a roadmap beyond just the England series. Yet, the decision does come with significant risk. Gill’s overseas Test record — an average of 27.53 compared to 42.03 at home — reflects a batsman still learning how to master difficult conditions. Whether he can simultaneously shoulder the additional burden of leadership remains to be seen.
One of the more nuanced aspects of this transition is that Gill’s leadership style contrasts sharply with that of his predecessor, Kohli. Where Kohli was a natural-born leader — vocal, aggressive, and demonstrative — Gill is composed, understated, and internally driven. He rarely draws attention on the field unless he’s batting. While this quiet confidence can be a strength, it may also challenge him when it comes to asserting authority, inspiring teammates, or responding to the high-octane pressure of modern Test cricket.
Fortunately for Gill, he will have the dynamic and street-smart Rishabh Pant as his deputy. Pant’s return as vice-captain is crucial. Beyond his explosive batting, he brings valuable leadership instincts and familiarity with England’s conditions. The combination of Gill’s serenity and Pant’s spark could strike a healthy balance, provided their partnership flourishes under stress.
Then there is Jasprit Bumrah — previously India’s vice-captain and a leader in his own right — who has been sidelined from the leadership conversation due to workload management. While this is understandable given his injury history, it subtly underlines another challenge Gill faces: managing egos and expectations within a team full of players who are leaders in their own domains.
The squad around Gill is young but talented. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Dhruv Jurel represent the next generation, while players like KL Rahul, Siraj, and Jadeja offer a smattering of experience. Yet the absence of consistent match-winners abroad makes the task daunting. And with fans and media notoriously unforgiving of failures, a poor series could see Gill's captaincy questioned long before he has a chance to mature into the role.
Leadership transitions in Indian cricket have always been fraught. Even legends like Tendulkar and Dhoni faced immense pressure early in their tenures. The captaincy is not just a job — it is a symbol of national pride and a lightning rod for criticism. Gill, for all his calm and class, will need thick skin and a strong inner circle.
The story of Shubman Gill’s captaincy will not be written in one series. But how he handles this tough initiation — in a land where swing and scrutiny are equally sharp — will define the early contours of his
leadership era.