"On what basis?" Twitter reacts to Rishabh Pant's vice-captain appointment for team India

The BCCI on Saturday, May 24, announced the new captain and vice-captain for the India National Cricket Team ahead of the England tour. The Ajit Agarkar-led Indian selection committee has picked Shubman Gill as India’s next Test captain and Rishabh Pant as his deputy.

The BCCI has also announced the 18-member squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting on June 20. There was already buzz about Shubman Gill succeeding Rohit Sharma as the Test captain of the India National Cricket Team.

Rishabh Pant named India's Test vice-captain ahead of England tour

However, Rishabh Pant made a late entry in the leadership race despite his poor captaincy in the IPL 2025, where he leads the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Rishabh Pant beat KL Rahul in the race to become India’s new Test vice-captain after Jasprit Bumrah decided to stay away from leadership.

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Read Also: India Test squad for England 2025 tour announced; New Captain, Vice-Captain picked

After announcing Shubman Gill as India’s new Test captain, Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed why Rishabh Pant was named vice-captain for the England Test series.

Agarkar further said that Pant has been one of India’s top Test batters in recent years and, as a wicketkeeper, has a great view of the game. The chief selector said this made Pant the ideal man to support Shubman Gill in leadership.

Ajit Agarkar said at the press conference, “Pant is one of our best batters in Test cricket over the last four or five years. A wicketkeeper can see the game well, and that's why he is Shubman's deputy.”

Indian cricket fans not happy with Rishabh Pant being named Test Vice-captain

However, Rishabh Pant’s fans are not happy with his latest honor from the BCCI. They believe that Pant should have been made India’s Test captain instead of Shubman Gill, given his performances in the format and experience, especially in the SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries.

While many blamed politics and PR games behind Gill’s appointment as Test captain, some fans demanded the Indian wicketkeeper-batter’s promotion as captain, while some questioned the national selectors’ decision to make Pant vice-captain, given his ongoing struggles.

Here's how fans react to Rishabh Pant's appointment as India's Test Vice-captain:

I wrote 11 days ago, make Rishabh Pant Test vice captain. It's true.

PS: I am not a cricket writer.#pant#RishabhPant#BCCIhttps://t.co/gWLB3a5ryl

— Jai Hind (@kannandelhi) May 24, 2025

If this ipl season was not a total disaster for #RishabhPant , he would have been the test skipper I feel given his test statistics. Hainaaaa

— Jules (@mrsjulesdarcy) May 24, 2025

After Bumrah, Rishabh Pant was the clear choice for Test captain based on consistent performances and impact in tough conditions.

How does Shubman Gill, averaging 35 with nothing notable outside Asia since Gabba 2021, get the role? Makes absolutely no sense.#RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/F0MH06HvFp

— ᴷ.🕸🕷🦸🏻‍♂️ (@Spidey_Rp) May 24, 2025

The Vice Captain of Indian Test team - Rishabh Pant 🇮🇳🌟#RishabhPant #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/b6AdidbP6z

— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) May 24, 2025

• THE DOWN OF BCCI STARTED HERE?

• THERE'S SHOW THE REAL POLITICS & BIASED CLOWN BCCI.

• THE DESERVING TEST TEAM CAPTAINCY OPTIONS IN INDIAN TEAM IS #JASPREETBUMRAH & #RISHABHPANT, BUT THEY PREFERRED GILL FOR FAVOURITISM OVER PERFORMANCE.#TATAIPL2025#testcaptain#ENGvsIND https://t.co/tnujgsafnF

— Nitesh Prajapati (@itsmenitesh004) May 24, 2025

#RishabhPant Rishabh pant is the man himself is made for The test matches. Plzzz don't judge his form Compared to the T20'S.

— PAVANTEJ (@InkolluPavantej) May 24, 2025

" PANT DESERVES TEST CAPTAINCY "
is trending at 10 💥

Captain Spidey IMPACT ❤️🔥#RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/X8t1tL2pbk

— 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧™ (@Rishabhian_17) May 24, 2025

Most Happiest Person Right Now 😺 #GTvsLSG #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/6WUdQcE7Wl

— $achin Nayak (@SachinN18342436) May 22, 2025

The guy who dominated australia in australia England in england and south africa in south africa , if not bumrah then it should be rishabh pant.
PANT DESERVES TEST CAPTAINCY#Rishabhpant pic.twitter.com/LFIVCTNaf3

— Varshith 17❤‍🔥 (@VARSHITH017) May 24, 2025

teamindia #RishabhPant India's test PANT DESERVE TEST CAPTAINCY CAPTAIN GILL ERA BEGINS

shubman Gill virat kohli #ViratKohli msdhoni rohit sharma #INDvsENG shreyas iyer https://t.co/b8Jxncxeag

— 𝗝𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗵 🚩 (@JayShahX) May 24, 2025

#ENGvIND #TeamIndia Gill Captain #RishabhPant

When you see Pant as vice-captain of Team India pic.twitter.com/jFQwIgB4VD

— How Football Saved Humans - Great Book to Read (@HowHumans) May 24, 2025

Pant when he saw VC next to his name and not Bumrah’s: #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/i7mpSUjpaM

— Uradoofusbhaiya (@uradoofus) May 24, 2025

Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh set for Test debut in England

Well, the left-handed batter might have been struggling in the T20Is lately, but his Test numbers are solid, and he was already seen as the next leader. The 27-year-old has already represented India in 42 Tests and amassed 2948 runs with the help of 6 centuries and 15 fifties at an average of 42.11.

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Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan and fast bowler Arshdeep Singh have been handed maiden Test call-ups for the England tour. Karun Nair is also back in the squad after eight years. He last played for India in 2017. He has the record of scoring a triple century in Test cricket.

Apart from Nair, Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur and batter Abhimanyu Easwaran returned to the Test side for the England tour. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mohammed Shami didn’t find a place in the squad for the upcoming Test series against England.

India's Squad for Test Tour of England:

Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Kadeja, Dhurv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav.