With the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, the Indian Test team is expected to take on a fresh new look. A new captain will soon be announced, and meetings are currently underway to finalise the squad for the England tour. Some new faces might also be included.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee now faces the tough task of picking a new captain. For the five-match India vs England Test series, the team needs a captain who will be available for all matches. According to reports, the choice is between two names.
Who Will Be the New Captain?
Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are the two frontrunners for the captaincy. However, the selection panel has not reached a unanimous decision. Some members favour Pant, while others are backing Gill.
The first priority in the coming days will be resolving the captaincy issue. Only after that will the final squad be announced. Jasprit Bumrah, despite being a senior player, is reportedly not in the captaincy race, although he could be given some leadership responsibility. The delay in naming the captain is currently holding up the announcement of the entire squad.
When Will the Squad Be Announced?
The captain and the rest of the Test squad are expected to be announced in the next few days. A new vice-captain could also be named. The official announcement is likely in the last week of May. Once the captaincy decision is made—likely in a day or two—the team will be revealed.
Who Will Replace Rohit and Kohli?
Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan are being considered for inclusion in the squad. While Nair has already played Test cricket, filling the spots left by Rohit and Kohli won’t be easy. Shreyas Iyer is seen as a strong option to replace Kohli in the middle order.
Pressure on Bumrah
India’s pace bowling department will need attention as well. Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj have not performed up to expectations in the IPL. Jasprit Bumrah will be under pressure to lead the attack. Youngsters like Harshit Rana and Nitish Reddy could provide support. The selectors may focus more on pace-bowling all-rounders for the tour.