Shubman Gill: The Face of the Future or a Risky Bet?

 The winds of change are sweeping through Indian Cricket. The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) announced the test squad for a five-match test series against England. With RO-KO stepping aside from the longest format of the game, the spotlight is now on the young generation, and it will be led by 25-year-old batter Shubhman Gill. This tour is more than just a bilateral contest—it's the beginning of India's journey in the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle and a litmus test for the future of Indian cricket.

Fresh Blood and Second Chances

One of the biggest surprises of the announcement was the inclusion of Sai Sudharsan, who earns his maiden Test call-up after a strong IPL season. Also returning to the squad is Karun Nair, remembered for his triple century against England back in 2016. His recall is a nod to experience and redemption.

Meanwhile, consistent domestic performers like Abhimanyu Easwaran have also been retained, suggesting the selectors are looking to build a solid core of red-ball specialists.

Who Missed Out?

The absence of Shreyas Iyer raised eyebrows. The squad will also be without pace spearhead Mohammed Shami, who is recovering from an injury. His absence leaves a big void, but India still boasts a formidable pace attack. Also Harshit Rana and Axar Patel are dropped from the test side.

Squad Breakdown

Batsmen: Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair
Wicketkeepers: Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel
All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Nitish Kumar Reddy
Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav
Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep.

Probable Playing 11

1. Jaiswal 
2. Rahul
3. Sai Sudharshan
4. Gill (C)
5. Pant (VC) (WK)
6. Jaddu
7. Nitish Kumar Reddy
8. Shardul Thakur
9. Bumrah
10. Siraj
11. Akashdeep/ Arshdeep

Is Gill the Ideal Choice?

Shubman Gill may be the face of the future, but is he the ideal candidate to lead India in testing overseas conditions, especially in the SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia)? His numbers suggest there’s room for doubt.

Let’s break it down:

Gill in SENA Tests:

• Matches: 11
• Runs: 481
• Average: 26.7
• Fifties: 2

Interestingly, his returns in SENA countries are eclipsed by someone like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who, despite being a bowler, has:

• Runs: 398
• Average: 30.6
• Fifties: 3

Even Shardul Thakur — primarily a bowling all-rounder — has notched up 4 fifties in just 9 games in SENA conditions, compared to Gill’s 2 in 11.

Furthermore, Gill’s form outside Asia since his 91 at the Gabba in 2021 has been underwhelming. Here's a look at his scores:
28, 8, 17, 4, 13, 18, 6, 10, 29*, 2, 26, 36, 10, 31, 28, 1, 20, 13

That’s 18 innings over four years without a single half-century, and an average hovering around 26. It raises a critical question: Would players like Mayank Agarwal or Shikhar Dhawan, who were dropped despite better averages in SENA conditions, have faced the same faith and backing?

Sure, Gill has shown class and potential, but in Test cricket, numbers often tell the harsh truth. With a Test average of just 35 overall and limited impact overseas, the decision to hand him the captaincy has sparked a debate: Is this a forward-thinking call, or one made too soon?

Thank You,

Advait Kadam

Cricket Analyst