As India prepare for their much-anticipated five-match Test series in England starting June 20 at Headingley, the absence of two stalwarts—Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli—casts a long shadow. Both veterans recently bid farewell to Test cricket, marking the end of an era for India in the longest format. Their departure leaves a significant void, not just in terms of experience and skill, but also in leadership and resilience under pressure.
With over two decades of combined Test experience between them, Rohit and Kohli have been the backbone of India’s batting and on-field strategy. Their absence is expected to shift the balance in England’s favour, especially as the series also marks the beginning of the new 2025-2027 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Who leads India now? A new era beckons
The big question now looming over Indian cricket is: who steps into the captain’s shoes in Rohit’s absence? The selectors and team management find themselves in a delicate position, balancing potential with stability.
Jasprit Bumrah, who has led India before, remains an attractive option due to his sharp cricketing mind and tactical awareness. However, there are concerns over Bumrah’s injury record, which could prevent him from lasting through a physically demanding five-Test series in English conditions.
Another frontrunner is KL Rahul, who has captained India in various formats, but his inconsistent fitness and patchy Test form might weigh against him. That leaves a promising, albeit inexperienced, candidate in Shubman Gill—who has already led Gujarat Titans in the IPL and shown composure beyond his years.
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Moeen Ali names the next Indian Test captain
Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali gave his views on the red-hot topic and reckoned that India might hand over the captaincy reins to Gill for the series. Speaking on SkySports, Moeen noted that while Gill lacks captaincy experience in Test cricket, his temperament and tactical maturity make him a strong candidate.
“I think it will be Shubman Gill. Ideally, they’d prefer Jasprit Bumrah, but due to his fitness challenges, Gill is a safer long-term option. He has a good cricketing mind and has shown leadership qualities in the IPL,” Moeen said.
However, Moeen also highlighted the difficulty of captaining a team in English conditions, particularly for someone taking on the role for the first time, emphasizing the mental and tactical challenges involved. However, he warned against underestimating India, stating that even without the experienced duo of Rohit and Kohli, the team still possesses a strong and capable batting unit that can pose serious threats.
“Leading in England is never easy, especially for someone doing it for the first time. But India should not be underestimated—despite missing two giants, they still have a solid batting line-up,” added Moeen.
Also READ: Former selector MSK Prasad names the next Test captain of India after Rohit Sharma’s retirement
