Indian selectors have held informal talks with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant for the Test team captaincy, but remain undecided over choosing Rohit Sharma’s successor in the longest format, as reported by Sky Sports News. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the new skipper and squad for the tour of England, beginning June 20, this week.

Gill and Pant are the two top candidates for the role, as Jasprit Bumrah has opted out because of his possible inability to play all five games of the series.

One selector at the BCCI is reportedly holding reservations over handing Gill the leadership role, since his place in the XI is only uncertain. He believes that the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain could be a better fit for the role of Pant’s deputy.

Gill has played 32 Tests for India, aggregating 1893 runs at an average of 35.05, on the back of seven half-centuries and five tons. All of his centuries have come on home soil and his average in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) drops to under 17. Pant, on the other hand, has touched the three-figure mark in South Africa, Australia, and England multiple times, whilst recording an average of 42.11, thanks to his 15 50+ scores and six centuries in 43 Tests, having debuted in England in 2018.

Whoever assumes the captaincy responsibility will have the huge task of delivering promising returns in the World Test Championship (WTC). India finished runners-up in the opening two editions of the competition, but failed to qualify for the summit clash in the latest 2023-25 cycle.