With a leadership vacuum thrown up after the high-profile retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the Indian Test set-up is poised to make a major leap of faith in choosing their next leader.
Reports have suggested that Shubman Gill could take over Sharma as Test captain before the highly anticipated five-match Test tour to England next month. Gill, designated India’s vice-captain in the long format last year, hasn’t quite nailed down a spot in whites yet, averaging 35 in 32 Tests.
However, Gill is set to pip Jasprit Bumrah, whose injury-prone status could go against his elevation to permanent captaincy.
Former India all-rounder R Ashwin, who retired during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, has backed his long-time spin partner Ravindra Jadeja to take over captaincy as a stop-gap option in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship cycle.
“Let’s not forget, Jadeja is the most experienced player in the team. He should be in the conversation. If you’re willing to train a new guy for two years and then make him captain, Jadeja can do that for two years too. They (India) can even play him as vice-captain (under Jadeja). It will seem like I’m throwing in a wildcard,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
With the wind blowing in Gill’s favour, Ashwin also had a piece of advice for the Gujarat Titans captain. While a good finish to the IPL 2025 season will boost Gill’s stocks, Ashwin urged him to be aware of the happenings on the domestic front besides their IPL exploits.
“I hope Gujarat Titans qualify for the IPL playoffs. If Gill gains honour there, it might make his transition to leadership easier. But captaincy, especially in Tests, is not about one good season. A leader should know what’s happening in first-class cricket too,” Ashwin added.