Udaipur, May 8, 2025: India captain Rohit Sharma has quit Tests. So, who will be the next captain of India in Test cricket? The answer should have been simple, as the vice-captain of the Test team is Jasprit Bumrah.

In Rohit's absence, Bumrah led the team in two Tests against Australia in the last Test series. However, the cricket portal ESPNcricinfo states that Shubman Gill, not Bumrah, has a better chance of being given the responsibility of leading the Indian Test team.

India needs to think about this because Bumrah won't play all of the team’s Test matches. He will be managed carefully to get the best out of him. So, if Bumrah isn’t available, India will have to find a new captain. That’s why Shubman Gill is at the top of the list.

The selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, will announce the squad for the England series later this month. This series will mark the start of India’s new World Test Championship cycle, and the selectors are aiming to choose a captain with a long-term plan in mind. In this context, 25-year-old Shubman Gill is ahead.

Concerns Over Bumrah’s Workload

ESPNcricinfo reported concerns about Bumrah’s workload, as he has been a key player in India’s pace attack across all formats. This is especially true after he suffered a back injury during the final Test of the Australia series, which also ruled him out of the first few matches of the IPL.

KL Rahul’s Leadership Experience

KL Rahul, who was part of the team for the last Sydney Test, has experience leading in Tests. He has previously captained in three Tests. Before him, Virat Kohli was India’s long-term captain.

Shubman Gill’s Captaincy Prospects

Shubman Gill has yet to captain India in Tests or ODIs. However, he has led the team in five T20Is, including during the tour of Zimbabwe in mid-2024. Many of India’s top players were rested for that series after the T20 World Cup. Gill is currently the vice-captain in both white-ball formats.

For months, rumors have been circulating that Gill is being groomed as a future captain. His performance as captain of Gujarat Titans in the 2024 IPL has been impressive. He replaced Hardik Pandya, who led the team to the championship in 2022 and took them to the final the following year.

Gujarat Titans’ Performance in IPL 2024

While Gujarat’s performance in 2024 wasn't as strong as expected, they are now one of the best teams, currently sitting at the top of the points table.

Shubman Gill’s Performance in Tests

Gill made his Test debut in December 2020 against Australia, scoring 45 and 35* in his first match. India won that Test under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane. Since then, Gill has been a regular in the Test team. In 32 Tests, he has scored 1893 runs at an average of 35.05, including 5 centuries and 7 fifties.