The transition period in the Indian Test team began two years ago. Senior pros who once formed the backbone of the batting line-up were gradually eased out, and India began experimenting with rookies in the bowling unit.

Yet few would have predicted that on Saturday, 24 May – just weeks before the much-anticipated England tour – the senior selection committee would be sitting down to choose not only a new captain, but also a replacement for the iconic No. 4 spot, long held by one of the game’s greats. Winter is finally here.

India are heading into the next cycle of the World Test Championship without Virat Kohli, R. Ashwin and Rohit Sharma. Ashwin retired midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, and in May, Kohli and Rohit both called time on their Test careers – within a span of just five days.

India’s Test Squad Announcement For England Live Updates

It was widely expected that Kohli would tour England and guide a relatively inexperienced side, especially after Rohit’s exit. But the former captain surprised many by announcing his retirement from his favourite format. While acknowledging it was a difficult decision, Kohli called it a timely one.

India have now been fast-tracked into a transition phase as significant as the one between 2011 and 2013, when the team moved past icons like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

All eyes are now on head coach Gautam Gambhir and selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar, as they meet at the BCCI headquarters on Saturday to pick the squad for the five-Test series in England.

While several key questions await answers, the biggest of them all is: ‘Who will be India’s next Test captain?’

In an ideal world, the answer to this question is straightforward: Jasprit Bumrah. Arguably the world’s best pacer, Bumrah had expressed his desire to lead India in whites, and once he got the opportunity, he proved his worth. He stood in for Rohit Sharma in a Test match in 2022 and looked even more confident and composed when he captained India in two Tests during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Bumrah was aggressive, tactically astute and, more importantly, seemed to relish the burden of captaincy, willingly putting himself in tough situations in Perth and Sydney.

However, an injury during the all-important series finale in Sydney derailed India’s push for a series-levelling result. Bumrah’s long-standing injury issues resurfaced at the worst possible time, raising fresh concerns about his workload and ability to withstand the rigours of a five-match series.

Despite his credentials and leadership potential, the selectors appear hesitant to take what they see as a high-risk option. Will Bumrah last an entire overseas tour? Will he even be required to play all home Tests, where India have shown they can win without him?

Then there is Rishabh Pant, arguably one of India’s finest Test batters with leadership experience. KL Rahul has also led India in the past.

At this juncture, however, the selectors are believed to be leaning towards Shubman Gill, according to sources.

IS SHUBMAN GILL THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB?

Yes, Gill has been part of the leadership group in white-ball formats. At the Champions Trophy, he was named as Rohit Sharma’s deputy. But has he done enough in Tests to justify elevation to the captaincy?

Gill, 25, made his Test debut in 2020 and has played 32 matches in the format, averaging 35.05. However, his average drops to below 20 in England and South Africa – two key overseas territories in his still-nascent career.

To date, Gill has scored 559 runs in 13 matches in SENA countries and the West Indies, averaging just 25, with only two fifties in 24 innings. Since his match-winning 91 in the famous Brisbane Test in 2021, Gill has yet to score a half-century in any of these regions.

After Yashasvi Jaiswal cemented his place at the top, Gill was moved to No. 3 and has since struggled to find his footing – especially in overseas conditions.

Would it be prudent to thrust the responsibility of captaincy on a player who is still finding his feet in the longest format?

Former India captain and ex-chief selector Kris Srikkanth, speaking to IndiaToday.in earlier in May, warned against putting Gill in the hot seat just yet.

“A lot is being said about Shubman Gill, but he is yet to score big runs. In England, Australia, South Africa – he has never scored. That means you’re thrusting everything on him. Let Shubman Gill establish himself in Test cricket. He is a king in home conditions,” he said.

There’s no doubting Gill’s talent. He is arguably the next big superstar of Indian cricket. But is he ready for Test captaincy – especially with the pressure of a tough overseas tour like England?

Virat Kohli was 25 when he took over the captaincy from MS Dhoni, but he had spent a couple of years learning under Dhoni before inheriting the toughest job in world cricket.

The selectors are perhaps hoping that captaincy will bring out the best in Gill, just as it did for Kohli. Before taking over as Test captain during the 2014 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli had endured one of the leanest patches of his career – scoring just 144 runs in 10 innings during that year’s England tour.

Kohli went on to dominate in Australia, thriving under the added pressure of captaincy.

Gill has also shown signs of enjoying that pressure, albeit in the Indian Premier League. After a tough maiden season as captain of Gujarat Titans in 2024, he appears to be back at his best – both as a batter and a leader – in IPL 2025.

It’s the dawn of a bold new era in Indian cricket. And if Shubman Gill is indeed the chosen one, the team management, selectors and fans must be prepared to back him through the highs and the inevitable lows. He will need time – to learn, to stumble, to grow. But if Indian cricket is betting on the future, it must be ready to ride out the storm that comes before the calm.