BCCI selectors briefly considered bringing back Virat Kohli as Test captain for the England tour to give Shubman Gill more time to develop, but ultimately chose Gill to lead India in the five-match series starting June 20.
Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket on May 7 through an Instagram announcement. His decision came just before India’s squad selection for the five-Test series against England. The series will run from June 20 to August 4. India will now have a new Test captain for the high-stakes campaign.
As per PTI reports, 25-year-old Shubman Gill is expected to lead the side. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is likely to be named vice-captain. However, the selectors reportedly discussed giving the captaincy back to Virat Kohli for the England tour. Kohli last captained India in January 2022 during the South Africa series.
“It is true that selectors did think about having Kohli as India skipper for the England series. This would have given Gill some time to grow into a leadership role, but at 25-and-a-half years of age, he is yet to hit his peak. Due to Bumrah’s fitness issues, Gill looks like the obvious choice for Ajit Agarkar’s committee,” PTI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
Virat Kohli Mulls Test Retirement Ahead of England Series
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is reportedly considering retirement from Test cricket ahead of India’s England tour. According to multiple reports, the 36-year-old informed the BCCI about his decision two weeks ago. However, board officials and the selectors have urged him to reconsider, especially with a crucial five-Test series scheduled from June 20 to August 4.
READ ALSO | Virat Kohli Plans Test Retirement, BCCI Urges Reconsideration: Report
Since debuting in 2011 against the West Indies, he has played 123 Tests. He has scored 9230 runs, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, making him India’s fourth-highest run scorer in Test cricket. The final decision is expected soon, ahead of the selection meeting next week.
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Last Updated on May 11, 2025
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