Virat Kohli nearly named Test captain for England tour before BCCI finalizes Shubman Gill

The next generation is all set to take charge of the Indian team from the England series. As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that Shubman Gill and keeper-batter Rishabh Pant are all set to get the leadership roles in the longest format of the game.

The reports claimed that Shubman Gill is all set to get the captaincy, while Rishabh Pant will be his deputy in Test cricket. The choice of the vice-captain has been pretty easy for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the keeper-batter has been one of India's best batters in overseas conditions, scoring runs consistently.

There were talks about Jasprit Bumrah getting the vice-captain role

It is learned that there were talks about Jasprit Bumrah getting the vice-captain role. But the selectors believe that there is no point in offering him the role if he isn't the captain.

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Ideally, he should have been the one leading the team, but his fitness has put him on the back foot in terms of captaincy.

"If Bumrah isn't the captain, then there is no point offering him vice-captaincy," a BCCI source told PTI.

Selectors had talks about Virat Kohli leading the team to allow Shubman Gill to settle

The reports also claimed that selectors had talks about Virat Kohli leading the team in England to allow Shubman Gill some more time to settle. But they were of the opinion that the young batter looked like the obvious choice for Ajit Agarkar's committee.

"It is true that selectors did think about having Kohli as India skipper for the England series. This would have given Shubman Gill some time to grow into a leadership role, but at 25-and-a-half years of age, he has yet to hit his peak. Due to Bumrah's fitness issues, Gill looks like the obvious choice for Ajit Agarkar's committee," the source said.

KL Rahul is not being considered for Test captaincy

Earlier, there were reports of KL Rahul being considered for Test captaincy were there too. But the PTI report added that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) isn't looking at him at all as he is already 33 plus and hasn't been as consistent as he should have been.

Although KL Rahul had a great time with the bat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the BCCI believes that his average of less than 35 in 50 games after 11 years of Test cricket isn't impressive. Hence, he won't be offered any leadership role.

The India National Cricket Team squad for the Test series against the England National Cricket Team is all set to be announced during the third week of May. The Test series is all set to begin on 20th June and will start the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship as well.

Sai Sudharsan is all set to be on the flight to England for the series. The Tamil Nadu batter, who has been one of the best batters of late in domestic cricket, is expected to make his debut for the team.

Also read: Shubman Gill kicked aside as Anil Kumble announces Jasprit Bumrah as India's new Test skipper