Shubman Gill Faces Surprise Competition For Test Captaincy, Even As Bumrah Says This

With Rohit Sharma retired and Virat Kohli firm on stepping away, the BCCI is under pressure to name a new red-ball leader. Gill and Pant now emerge as the likeliest contenders.

New Delhi | May 12, 2025:
In a significant leadership vacuum for Indian Test cricket, Jasprit Bumrah has reportedly declined the opportunity to lead the side, citing workload management as the primary reason. This development leaves Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant as the two leading candidates to succeed Rohit Sharma, who announced his Test retirement last week.

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Adding to the turmoil, Virat Kohli has also expressed his intent to step away from Test cricket, with BCCI’s efforts to convince him so far proving unsuccessful. This sudden shift has pushed the team into a rapid generational transition, just weeks ahead of the high-stakes England Test series, set to begin on June 20.

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Pant’s Entry Surprises, Gill Still Leads the Race

While Gill was widely expected to step into the leadership role, the inclusion of Pant’s name in the leadership conversation has caught many by surprise. Despite recent inconsistency, Pant’s track record as a match-winner in overseas Tests lends weight to his candidacy. However, his impulsive shot selection remains a concern, particularly following his performance in the recent Australia series.

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Sky Sports reported that “India are now expected to pick either Gill or Pant as their next Test captain,” with selectors expected to meet later this week.

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Bumrah Prioritizes Longevity Over Leadership

Though Bumrah previously led India in Rohit’s absence during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has now informed selectors of his inability to commit to full series leadership due to workload concerns. Given the grueling five-Test format and the need for consistency, the selectors are inclined toward someone who can feature across the entire series.

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Kohli’s Exit Looms Large

Kohli’s anticipated retirement from Tests adds further weight to this transition. As per reports, the 36-year-old informed chief selector Ajit Agarkar in April about his intent to retire ahead of the 2025–2027 World Test Championship cycle. A scheduled follow-up meeting has been delayed due to the ongoing India-Pakistan geopolitical tensions.

With both Rohit and Kohli out, India faces a rare challenge — building a new red-ball core under fresh leadership while maintaining performance on foreign soil.

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India Test captaincy, Jasprit Bumrah news, Shubman Gill captaincy, Rishabh Pant leadership, Rohit Sharma retirement, Virat Kohli Test exit, India vs England 2025, BCCI selection crisis