Shubman Gill is all set to start his stint as India's Tets captain in the upcoming Test series against England. He was chosen as the next Test skipper as the management backed him ahead of names like Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah.
He had a good hit out as India took on the India A side in a practice game. Several batters from both sides has a good time with Gill going on to score a fifty alongside KL Rahul.
As per reports, Shubman Gill is expected to bat at number four in the playing Xi much like he batted in the practice game. The Indian Test team is undergoing a transitional phase with the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin retired. Gill, the leader has accepted the change and is looking to usher in the change as well.
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Don't Think He Will Be Available For Five Tests- Ajit Agarkar On Jasprit Bumrah
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah is the key cog in the Indian bowling attack in the setup. He is back for his second trip to England and is key to India's chances. The Test series kicks off India's WTC 2025-27 campaign and there have already been talks about whether the Indian pacer will play all five test matches.
The concern comes on the back of his recent back injury after the Australia Test series that kept him out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Bumrah had issues with his back previously in his international career as well, forcing him to miss the T20 World Cup 2022.
Previously, BCCI Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir said that to ensure Jasprit Bumrah's workload and fitness, he won’t play more than 3 matches.
“I don’t think he will be available for five Tests as far as the physios and doctors have told us. Whether it’s four or three, I think we will see how the series goes and how his body can take the workload,” Agarkar had said when announcing the squad.
“We haven’t taken that call, which three games is he going to play,” Gambhir had told reporters in England.
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It Is Based On Match-To-Match Basis - Gill On Bumrah's Availability
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, in a recent conversation with Dinesh Karthik for Sky Sports, opened up about Bumrah and whether he will play all five Test matches. Gill said that they will not go in with a predefined mindset but will take the decision after seeing all the factors.
“Depending on how we go about matches, you know, there might be rain in one of the matches. So I think it’s more based on match-to-match and seeing how much workload there has been on him. And that’s what you’re trying to look at. You see how much workload he has had in this match. We don’t want to have a predetermined set: ‘Okay, these are the matches that he would want to play.’ Because there are so many factors that can go or not go in your favour that can determine whether he is going to play the next match or not,” Gill told Sky Sports Cricket.
The Test series starts from June 20, ahead of which the Indian team has had enough time to acclimatise themselves with the English conditions.
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