May 28, 2025: India’s new Test leadership duo is turning heads — not just for their cricketing talent, but their drastically different personalities. All-rounder Shardul Thakur has opened up about the shocking contrast between newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant ahead of India’s five-match Test series against England.
Speaking to Boria Majumdar on Revsportz, Thakur said:“They both are big players and the future of India. Shubman is calm, composed, and serious, while Rishabh is funny and lively. But this contrast is their strength — their own USP.”
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The announcement came on Saturday, with the BCCI naming Gill as skipper and Pant as his deputy for the high-stakes series scheduled from June to August 2025, with matches at iconic English venues like Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
India’s New-Look Squad: Big Names In, Legends Out
The squad also marks the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket, following the retirement of legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket earlier this month.
Fresh faces like Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair, and Abhimanyu Easwaran bring new energy. Easwaran, despite a disappointing Australia tour last year, is backed for his 7,600+ first-class runs.
In the bowling attack, Jasprit Bumrah leads a fiery pace unit including Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Thakur himself.
Full Squad for England Test Series:
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
With two young stars steering the ship and a completely restructured side, India’s tour of England promises to be a must-watch chapter in the team’s evolving legacy.