NEW DELHI: The Ajit Agarkar-led India men’s senior selection committee is likely to pick the squad for India tour of England in the second week of May and a lot of debate and deliberation is already underway as far as captaincy for the five-Test series is concerned. Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah were the captain and vice-captain, respectively, during the tour of Australia in December-January but the combination is highly unlikely to continue in England.
In Australia, Rohit’s returns were far from ideal – 31 runs in three Tests – and he didn’t feature in the last Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Bumrah led in his absence but went on to miss a lot of cricket after that due to a back injury.
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Those in the know say the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keen on including Shubman Gill in the leadership group for the away series starting on June 20. The classy right-hander is already the vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is, and could find himself in a similar role in the longest format.
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There is a lot of chatter around Rohit’s captaincy in Tests and while he has shown the desire to lead in England, there are no guarantees yet. It is reliably understood that another senior player, who sensed a leadership vacuum, expressed desire to have the captaincy armband again. That, however, was not entertained by the Indian cricket board as they are clear on grooming a player for the future.
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“A new WTC cycle is starting. Future and continuity has to be kept in mind as far as the team is concerned. Even coach Gautam Gambhir would want a set of players he is likely to work with for an extended period. There can’t be any stop-gap solutions for such an important series. The last two Test series haven’t been ideal for the team and the England series is very crucial,” said a source tracking developments.
The 25-year-old Gill has had a lot of success in ODIs but is still a work-in-progress in Test cricket. He asked for a No. 3 position but the returns are far from the high standards he sets for himself. The England tour could well be the litmus test for Gill who hasn’t enjoyed a lot of success away from home in his 32-Test career. Of Gill’s 1893 Test runs, 1177 have come at home while only 649 have come on foreign soil.
The BCCI, however, is looking at him not just from a cricketing and leadership talent perspective but also as a player who has the potential to become the face of Indian cricket. He continues to be in high demand as far as brands and sponsorships are concerned, and continues to put the right foot forward in the field. His captaincy for Gujarat Titans in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has impressed the men who matter, and what has stood out is how it hasn’t affected his batting at all.
It is only a matter of time before Gill is elevated to the leadership role even in Tests but the question is, could it come in England? The chances are very high at the moment.
