Shubman Gill has been appointed as India’s Test captain at the age of 25, fulfilling his long-standing ambition of representing the country in the longest format. The announcement comes following Rohit Sharma’s retirement, marking a new leadership era for Indian cricket. Gill, who has been a key player in the Test setup, now takes on the responsibility of leading the team in the upcoming five-match series against England.
Official Announcement by BCCI
In a significant development, the BCCI named Shubman Gill the Test captain while announcing an 18-member squad for the upcoming five-match series against England. This series also kicks off the new World Test Championship cycle. The leadership spot opened up following Rohit Sharma’s retirement, which, alongside Virat Kohli’s exit from Tests, marked the end of an era. It was a natural progression for Gill, who had been groomed for leadership with vice-captaincy in limited-overs cricket.
First Reactions After Becoming Test Captain
In a candid interview with BCCI.tv, Gill admitted he was “a bit overwhelmed” by the honour. He shared, “To be able to get this opportunity is a great honour and it’s a big responsibility.” The young star acknowledged the magnitude of the role and expressed a readiness to embrace the challenge.
Ready to lead the country 🇮🇳
Grounded in learnings 😇
Driven by purpose 💪
🎥 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 #TeamIndia 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗹 – By @Moulinparikh@shubmangill
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 25, 2025
Leadership Style and Philosophy
Shubman Gill isn’t about theatrics. He believes in substance over spectacle. Though new to Test captaincy, Gill isn’t a stranger to leadership. He has already captained India in T20Is and served as vice-captain in ODIs. These stints provided valuable lessons in managing egos, making tactical decisions, and staying calm under pressure. His stint in white-ball formats will surely help him balance aggression with thoughtfulness in Tests.
“I believe in leading by example, not just by performance, but off the field by discipline and hard work,” he stated. He also emphasized understanding his teammates on a personal level to bring out the best in them. This people-first approach signals a modern, emotionally intelligent captain in the making.
He added, “A good leader should always be able to know what makes his players be able to have the best performance or the best outcome. That is always exciting to people to have those conversations with the players, to be able to know them on a deeper level than just cricket, you know, because then you’re really able to know what can get the best out of them.
Transitioning to Test Leadership
Red-ball cricket is a different beast altogether—longer days, more strategy, and a deeper mental grind. Gill understands this well. This mindset is key to maintaining consistency as both a batter and a leader.
“You need mental clarity. If I start thinking like a captain while batting, it adds pressure. I want to make batting decisions as a batsman, not as a captain,” he explained.
Insights from Former Captains
Gill had the privilege of sharing the dressing room with India’s two most recent greats—Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Virat was aggressive, always in attack mode. Rohit was calm and precise, often leading with communication and empathy. Gill plans to blend both these leadership styles to shape his own identity as a Test captain.
Gill noted, “When I was a kid, I was always inspired by the greats and the legends of Indian cricket and been very fortunate to be able to play with so many of them. Be it Virat bhai or Rohit bhai, both were very contrasting in terms of the style, but it was very inspiring to see both of them working towards a common goal. You want to be able to win as a captain, and your styles can be different, but they both were very different, but also similar in their own sense.”
Tactical Awareness and Mental Clarity
On the field, a captain needs to be a chess master—thinking several steps ahead. Off the field, he must manage workloads and mental well-being. Gill’s calm, collected nature helps him remain strategic. His batting isn’t affected by the captaincy, a balance only the best can maintain.
India’s upcoming home series against England is no cakewalk. Five Tests demand peak physical and mental strength. But Gill is pumped.
Gill concluded, “My favourite series that I played was also a five-Test match series when England came to India. There’s a different essence when you are playing a five-Test series. It’s long, it’s mentally and physically very challenging. That’s the most exciting thing that I find about red-ball cricket. It’s not going to be easy, but I think we’re ready for any challenge.”
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