New Era for Indian Cricket: Who Will Succeed Rohit Sharma?

Find out who's set to succeed Rohit Sharma as India's Test captain. Jasprit Bumrah and Shubman Gill are the top contenders, with experts weighing in on their leadership potential.

Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah are currently vying for the position of India's next Test captain, following Rohit Sharma's retirement announcement. Gill, a 25-year-old top-order batter, is considered the frontrunner for the role due to his youth and potential for long-term leadership.

Gill's appointment as captain is seen as a strategic move, given Jasprit Bumrah's potential workload concerns and injury risks. Bumrah, the current vice-captain, has led the pace attack and might miss some Tests in the upcoming cycle due to workload management. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will finalize the squad for the England series, starting with the first Test at Headingley on June 20.

Rohit Sharma, 38, had stepped down from the Sydney Test earlier this year citing a dip in his Test match form and has now officially announced his retirement from Test cricket. Sharma played 67 Test matches, scoring 4301 runs at an average of 40.57. With India's next Test commitment being the five-match series against England, the appointment of a new captain is crucial, and Shubman Gill's youth makes him an attractive choice to lead the team through the new World Test Championship cycle.

Jasprit Bumrah's potential captaincy of the Indian cricket team is a topic of discussion, especially with the team's upcoming tour of England. Bumrah has proven his leadership skills, notably during India's victory in Perth. However, concerns about injury risks for fast bowlers might impact his suitability for the role.

Former India captain Anil Kumble supports Bumrah's potential captaincy, suggesting Shubman Gill as his deputy. This leadership duo would be key as India embarks on a new World Test Championship cycle with a five-test series against England.

India's Test Squad for England 2025:

• Captain: Rohit Sharma
• Vice-Captain: Jasprit Bumrah

Other Key Players: 

Batsmen:

• Shubman Gill
• Virat Kohli
• Shreyas Iyer

    

Bowlers:

• Ravichandran Ashwin
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Mohammed Siraj
• Kuldeep Yadav

 

   

Wicketkeepers:

• KS Bharat
• Dhruv Jurel
• KL Rahul

The series is expected to be intense, with both teams vying for top spots in the World Test Championship.

Jasprit Bumrah's workload concerns might give Shubman Gill an edge in the race to succeed Rohit Sharma as India's Test captain. As a fast bowler, Bumrah's injury risk could impact his ability to lead the team in all Test matches.

Gill, on the other hand, has already demonstrated his leadership skills in the IPL, successfully leading Gujarat Titans to the top of the points table. His appointment as India's vice-captain in both white-ball formats further solidifies his credentials as a potential long-term captain. Gujarat Titans' assistant coach Parthiv Patel has praised Gill's presence in the dressing room and his proactive approach on the field, noting his good game sense.

A new era loading? 🧢🔥

Shubman Gill reportedly leads the race to become India’s next Test captain!

📷: BCCI

#ShubmanGill #GillCaptaincy #IndianCricket #NextGenLeader #TestCricket #BCCI pic.twitter.com/VtIOqeKqp2

— SportsTiger (@The_SportsTiger) May 8, 2025

Former India captain Anil Kumble suggests Bumrah could captain India in the upcoming England tour, with Gill as his deputy, at least for the initial series. However, Gill's youth and proven leadership abilities make him an attractive choice for the role, potentially setting him up for long-term success.

“Maybe just for this series (against England) with Bumrah and then see how his fitness is,” Kumble told ESPNcricinfo.

“I know it's not easy being a fast bowler.

“He's had injuries, he was on a break for a while after the Australia series and is only coming into action this IPL (Indian Premier League) but I'd still go with Bumrah.

“Every Indian would like to see Bumrah play all the test matches but his body may not allow it. Whenever that happens, the vice captain comes in and takes over.”

Gujarat assistant coach Parthiv Patel has praised Shubman Gill's leadership skills, saying, “One can feel his presence in the dressing room. That's what you look at in a leader.” Patel also commended Gill's proactive approach on the ground, stating, “On the ground, he's very proactive. His game sense is very good.” These comments highlight Gill's potential as a future captain of the Indian Test team, a role he's likely to take over from Rohit Sharma.

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- *India's Next Test Captain: Jasprit Bumrah or Shubman Gill?*

- *Rohit Sharma's Successor: Bumrah or Gill for India's Test Captaincy?*

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