With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, the Indian team is seeking a new captain. KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill are top contenders. Here’s a detailed analysis of who might lead Team India in the next Test series.
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from Test cricket—on May 7 and 12 respectively—India finds itself in urgent need of a new Test captain. Rohit led the team for four years, while under Kohli’s leadership, India secured 15 Test wins overseas across eight years. Their exits have left a major leadership gap in the red-ball format.
The core leadership group now includes only a handful of senior players: Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja. Among them, Rahul and Bumrah have prior captaincy experience, while younger players like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are also emerging as strong contenders.
Bumrah’s long history with injuries is a red flag.
Jasprit Bumrah stands out due to his past leadership stint during the Australia tour, where he captained in two Tests. Unfortunately, Bumrah suffered a back spasm in the first innings at Sydney, which sidelined him for the rest of the match, weakening India’s bowling attack in the second innings.
Bumrah’s long history with injuries is a red flag. He was out of action for nearly 15 months following a serious injury in 2022. Due to workload management, he often needs to be rested during long Test series. While he remains a game-changer, his fitness makes it impractical to assign him the role of permanent Test captain. Media reports also suggest Bumrah himself has declined the captaincy, citing fitness concerns. His availability for all five England Tests remains uncertain.
If Bumrah were to be named captain, the team would need one or two reliable vice-captains to step in during his absence—a strategy that may be too unstable for such a critical leadership position.
Pant: remains a high-risk, high-reward candidate for the Test captaincy
Among the current Indian squad, Rishabh Pant is one of the few players with a guaranteed spot in the playing XI. Over the past six years, Pant has cemented his status as one of the best wicketkeeper-batters in the world.
While Pant’s aggressive batting style has won matches, it also brings a level of unpredictability. Making him captain could produce surprising outcomes, for better or worse. Though he hasn’t captained India at the international level, Pant does have leadership experience in the IPL and domestic circuits.
Given his youth and fearless approach, he remains a high-risk, high-reward candidate for the Test captaincy.
Shubman Gill appears to be a front-runner behind Bumrah.
Among young contenders, Shubman Gill appears to be a front-runner behind Bumrah. The 25-year-old has already led India in limited-overs cricket and remains a fixture in the Test side alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and Pant.
In conditions that have become increasingly challenging for batters, Gill has scored five Test centuries over the last five years, showcasing maturity and technique beyond his age.
Even if he isn’t immediately named captain, appointing him as vice-captain could help groom him as a future leader—much like Virat Kohli, who took over Test captaincy at around the same age.
KL Rahul: The Most Reliable Choice for Stability and Experience
KL Rahul is arguably the most stable captaincy choice for the upcoming England Test series. Over the past five years, Rahul has been India’s top performer on foreign pitches, with centuries as an opener in South Africa, Australia, and England.
With Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Rahul’s return as an opening batter is almost certain. His composure, experience, and international exposure make him a natural leader.
If India’s management seeks short-term stability while preparing a younger captain for the future, naming Rahul as Test captain and grooming Shubman Gill as his deputy would be a logical strategy.
India’s next major assignment is a five-match Test series in England, beginning June 20 at Headingley. The tour will run until August 4. The last time India toured England for Tests under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, the series ended in a 2-2 draw.
With a new era dawning in Indian Test cricket, this England series will not only test the team’s mettle on foreign soil but also mark the beginning of a fresh leadership chapter. The decision on the next captain will significantly impact India’s red-ball journey for years to come.
