Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket, and the selectors are now looking for a new captain. Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant are the leading contenders for the top job, with the right-handed batter leading the race. According to reports, Gill, despite not leading the side in the longest format, is the current favourite, considering Bumrah’s injury-prone body and his likely absence from some of the matches.

The selectors will manage Bumrah’s workload, and he will be rested during the series and also from the assignments with smaller teams. He played all five Tests against Australia and paid a heavy price for non-stop cricket. He injured his back in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and was out of action for three months.

Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee wants a skipper who can lead the Test team for a long time, and they feel Gill is the right candidate. However, former India player Lal Chand Rajput is not convinced by Shubman and feels Bumrah should get the captain’s armband.

“Jasprit Bumrah led Team India during Rohit Sharma’s absence. Even in the previous World Test Championship Final against Australia, he was the captain. For me, it is the young side, and Bumrah being one of the senior players, and his past captaincy experience, I would look at him especially for the England tour,” he told PTI.

“Shubman Gill should be appointed as vice-captain as he is being groomed to lead India in the future,” he added.

Bumrah has been the team’s leader in Test cricket and T20Is. On the other hand, Gill was the skipper in the five T20Is against Zimbabwe last year. He was Rohit’s deputy in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Rishabh Pant has worked as a deputy in the past, and he might once again get the same post for the tour of England.