After Rohit Sharma’s retirement, there is intense speculation about who will be the next captain of India’s Test team. India is set to tour England next month for a five-match Test series, and the squad is expected to be announced in the next few days. According to news agency PTI, the Indian team for this tour will be announced on May 24, and the new Test captain will be revealed on the same day.
New Faces Likely to Get a Chance
The Indian team for the five-Test series in England will be announced on Saturday, May 24. During this announcement, the selectors will also name India’s new Test captain. With Rohit Sharma retiring, Shubman Gill is currently the frontrunner for the role. According to PTI, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar has already selected a 16- or 17-member squad for the England tour. Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh are expected to be the new faces in the team.
Who Are in the Race for Captaincy?
Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant are considered the main contenders for the Test captaincy. However, there have been reports that Bumrah has opted out of the race, leaving Gill and Pant as the top candidates. Due to workload management, it is unlikely that Bumrah will play all five Tests.
India to Begin New WTC Cycle
The England tour will mark the beginning of India’s campaign in the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). Notably, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli will not be part of this series, as all three have retired from the Test format. Recently, the BCCI announced the India A squad for a two-match series against England Lions, which included players like Karun Nair and Ishan Kishan. Gill and Sai Sudharsan were also included for the second match. It is expected that a few new faces from this squad could find a place in the senior team for the England tour.
