Shubman Gill inherits a legacy, not just a team
Maheshwar Singh
A new World Test Championship cycle is upon us, and with it, Indian cricket is entering uncharted waters. The retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma — two modern-day stalwarts who carried Indian cricket through a transformative era — has created a leadership vacuum. In response, the selectors have made a bold, if surprising, call: 25-year-old Shubman Gill will lead India’s red-ball team, starting with the upcoming series in England.
Gill’s appointment as Test captain wasn’t inevitable — it was a calculated risk. Despite being relatively young in Test terms (32 matches, average 35), Gill brings a calm temperament, growing leadership credentials, and crucially, the ability to connect with a young squad. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar insists the decision was “unanimous,” citing Gill’s mindset and long-term potential as key factors.
But it’s not like there weren’t other contenders. Jasprit Bumrah, who briefly led India in England in 2022 and was vice-captain on the Australia tour, seemed the logical next-in-line. He’s a proven match-winner, commands respect in the dressing room, and knows how to handle pressure. Yet, the selectors chose to err on the side of caution, possibly wary of Bumrah’s fitness history and the workload management that comes with being India’s premier fast bowler.
Rishabh Pant, once viewed as a captain-in-waiting, has been named vice-captain. Though he had a quiet IPL, he remains central to India’s long-term Test ambitions. His experience and flamboyant batting offer the perfect foil to Gill’s more measured approach.
The End of an Era
For over a decade, India’s Test team was built on the rock-solid spine of Kohli, Rohit, Pujara, Rahane, Ashwin, and Shami. They took Indian cricket to unprecedented heights — No. 1 rankings, two World Test Championship finals, and a historic series win in Australia. That era, for all practical purposes, is over.
The new-look squad is young, hungry, and largely unproven in red-ball cricket. Gill (25), Jaiswal (23), Sudharsan (23), and Pant (27) now form the batting nucleus. Most of them are products of the T20 generation — short-format stars being groomed for the long grind of Test cricket. The biggest challenge will not be talent, but temperament: can they unlearn the urgency of white-ball cricket and embrace the patience Test cricket demands?
The Gill Test
Leadership in Indian cricket is never just about tactics — it’s about handling pressure, expectations, and egos. Gill, to his credit, has shown maturity in leading the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. He’s orchestrated thrilling wins, anchored chases, and grown into a role few expected him to take so soon. But Test captaincy, especially in England, is a different beast.
Conditions will be testing — seaming pitches, swinging Dukes balls, and long days in the field. Gill will be expected to carry the batting and steer the team’s strategy, all while adjusting to a format he is yet to dominate. India’s recent track record in England isn’t comforting either; the last time they played a full series there, they lost 4-1.
Add to that the responsibility of mentoring a largely inexperienced side, and it’s clear Gill’s challenge is as much psychological as it is tactical.
A Necessary Transition
Transitions are rarely smooth. Most great teams have stumbled before finding their feet again. Australia post-Ponting and Clarke. England post-Cook and Anderson (in progress). Now, it’s India’s turn to rebuild.
Yes, there are concerns: Gill’s Test numbers are modest, the batting lineup is callow, and the bowling attack — barring Bumrah and Siraj — lacks the bite it once had. But this change was inevitable. Kohli and Rohit gave Indian fans a decade of dominance and defiance. Replacing them isn’t the goal. Evolving from their legacy is.
Ajit Agarkar summed it up best: “It’s a new cycle. Experience can only come from exposure. It’s going to be tough — but we believe Gill is ready.”
In my personal view, India’s Test team under Gill is not yet a finished product — it’s a blueprint in the making. The early results may be mixed. But the real success will be judged not in wins alone, but in how quickly this young core adapts, matures, and sustains the legacy of a team that once conquered the cricketing world.
The stage is set. England awaits. And with Gill at the helm, Indian cricket is all set for its next big chapter — for better or for worse.
