Gill front-runner for captaincy as India’s Test squad to be announced on Saturday

Shubman Gill is tipped to take over the Test captaincy.
| Photo Credit: File photo: Getty Images

India’s new Test captain and his troupe for a crucial five-Test series in England will be announced on Saturday soon after the conclusion of the national selection committee’s meeting.

Ever since Rohit Sharma announced his Test retirement on May 7 and Virat Kohli followed suit five days later, there has been intense speculation over India’s new Test captain and make-up of the squad that will set India on course for a transition in whites.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his four colleagues have been understood to have been involved in multiple rounds of discussion within themselves and with head coach Gautam Gambhir. Despite Jasprit Bumrah – who led India in two of the five Tests in Australia, including the New Year’s Test – being the logical choice, considering the pace spearhead’s fitness and the need to invest in a long-term option, the selectors in consultation with Gambhir have all but zeroed in on a younger captain.

Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are the two obvious choices in that regard, with Agarkar and Co. likely to give their nod to Gill. Not only had Gill been elevated to ODI vice-captaincy but his composure and tactics have been appreciated by his teammates.

Besides the captaincy, the batting line-up will also be interesting. The selectors will have their task cut out to not only fill the void created by two stalwarts but also ensure that the squad can pose a serious challenge to England.

India’s recent Test form has been miserable, which resulted in the team missing out on the World Test Championship final for the first time in three editions. While B. Sai Sudharsan is set to be inducted into the Test squad, it will be interesting to see if the selectors persist with Sarfaraz Khan – who didn’t get a look-in Down Under.

It remains to be seen whether Mohammed Shami is included to complement Bumrah in the pace pack. Shami couldn’t recover in time for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where Bumrah emerged as one-man pace machine before breaking down in the final Test at the SCG.