Watch: KL Rahul replaces Shubman Gill as India Test captain on Day 5 of Headingley Test

Senior India National Cricket Team opening batsman KL Rahul seemingly took over the leadership mantle of the Test team from Shubman Gill during the first match against the England National Cricket Team.

KL Rahul was seen calling the shots on the field during the fifth and final day of the Test series opener against the England National Cricket Team at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday, June 24.

Also Read: Watch: Ravindra Jadeja explodes, brutally scolds Shardul Thakur for sloppy fielding on Day 5 of Leeds Test

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

If you look at the field now and ask who is captaining, it will be KL Rahul - Nasser Hussain

Rahul is the most experienced batter in the current Indian Test team, and overall, he is the second most experienced player after the veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

KL Rahul brings a plethora of captaincy experience with him and has led Team India in more matches than Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant at the international level across formats.

Rahul decided to use his leadership experience during the high-octane Day 5 of the first Test against England. At the start of the day, he was reportedly seen giving a pep talk to the team in the huddle.

Despite skipper Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant being present there, Rahul did most of the talking. Rahul's words didn't work initially, but when he again passed on the message to the team after a rain break, it did wonders.

Prasidh Krishna got two wickets in quick succession for India by dismissing Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope. Just after that, Rahul called for another huddle and did all the talking.

As per several reports, he had taken complete charge of the team from Shubman Gill and was seen setting the field as well. Former England National Cricket Team skipper Nasser Hussain also highlighted this speaking on-air as he said:

"If you look at the field now and ask who is captaining, it will be KL Rahul. He has done all the hand signals, all the field settings. The change is evident."

Watch: KL Rahul steps in as captain

pic.twitter.com/lVHZnd8cHe

— Atharb Media (@MediaAtharb) June 24, 2025

ಮಗ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗ್ ಹೋಗ್ತಿದೆ ಮಗ #SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings | @KLRahul @prasidh43 pic.twitter.com/fNbb5rl39J

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) June 24, 2025

India can now regroup and think of a strategy - Ravi Shastri

Speaking after one of the rain breaks on Sky Sports, Nasser Hussain said that Indian bowlers need to create some magic to get back in the game. He stated:

"Let’s see if that rain delay has done anything for India. They need some magic - and Gill has to use his best three bowlers. It's not a club game, a school game where you play someone and have to bowl to them. This is England vs India in a Test match."

Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri said that the rain break would allow India to regroup and get the job done. He said:

"The rain has absolutely come at the right time for India..Duckett was upsetting Jadeja with his sweep shots and reverse sweeps, so the break couldn't have come at a better time.

"India can now regroup and think of a strategy, think of who they are going to use for the remainder of the game. I think Jadeja will have to be used more. He has to be told to be patient."