Shubman Gill likely to be named vice-captain for India Tour of England

Indian cricket fans are not required to wait too long for the sporting action to restart following the conclusion of IPL 2025. After the curtains draw on T20 cricket on May 25, Team India will regroup to kickstart the next WTC cycle. A disappointing run at the rear end of the last cycle saw India missing out on a spot in the 2025 WTC Final. Now, while Australia and South Africa will set up the marquee event, India will head to England for a five-match Test series. Meanwhile, latest reports from the camp suggest a major overhaul in the leadership role for the India tour of England.

Shubman Gill set to win India's Test vice-captaincy at the start of the new WTC Cycle

The tenure of Rohit Sharma as the Test captain landed under scrutiny after India's disappointing defeat to New Zealand at home, followed by the 1-3 defeat in the Border Gavaskar Trophy down under. However, the captain and the team quickly covered up the red-ball disappointment. The Rohit Sharma-led ODI squad picked up the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, bringing in the second ICC title within a year. Meanwhile, as IPL 2025 hogged the limelight, a recent report suggested that Rohit Sharma is likely to retain his captaincy for the India tour of England despite the contrasting updates earlier in the year.

Now, the latest report has stated that the board is keen to bring in a new face for the vice-captaincy charge. Jasprit Bumrah was named the vice-captain for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, where the pacer also led the team in the Perth and Sydney Tests amid the unavailability of Rohit Sharma. However, the speedster lags behind in the race to claim a long-term leadership role due to his injury-prone career. With the speedster requiring mandatory workload management across tours, Bumrah has been sidelined in the leadership race.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill is said to be heading the race to win India's Test vice-captaincy. The batter was designated as India's vice-captain for the ICC Champions Trophy. A regular prospect in India's red-ball squad as well, the top-order batter is likely to earn the leading role in the longer format too. The 25-year-old is said to be placed ahead of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant in the pecking order. The report explained that as a new WTC cycle starts, the BCCI is bent on finding a reliable prospect for the position. A young pick like Shubman Gill sits in sync with the board's ask for a long-term option who would be a fitting replacement for Rohit Sharma when the time comes.

"A new WTC cycle is starting. Future and continuity have 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.