KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, or Bumrah? BCCI Picks New Test Captain After Rohit Sharma Takes Test Retirement

Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket, and now the BCCI is focusing on finding a new leader for the longest format. Shubman Gill has emerged as the front-runner to take over the captaincy for the upcoming five-Test series against England.

With Rohit stepping down, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is planning a long-term leadership change. Jasprit Bumrah was also in the race, but his fitness issues and workload management make it tough for him to play all five matches. So, the selectors are looking to groom a younger captain, and 25-year-old Shubman Gill seems to be their first choice.

Gill, who is already Rohit’s deputy in white-ball formats, is one of the few players who regularly features in all three formats. He has also captained Gujarat Titans in the IPL for the past two seasons, earning praise for his cool and calm leadership style.

In Test cricket, Gill has played 32 matches and scored 1,893 runs, including five centuries and seven half-centuries. He has experience batting both as an opener and at No. 3, making him a strong candidate to lead India in this new phase.

The selection committee is expected to meet around May 17 in Mumbai to finalise the squad. While KL Rahul is also being considered, sources say his long-term chances are uncertain.

With a fresh World Test Championship cycle starting, the selectors are reportedly leaning towards giving Gill a longer run as captain and building a younger core around him.