Former India cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes Shubman Gill has yet to establish himself in the Test playing XI, making him an unstable captaincy candidate following Rohit Sharma’s departure. Ahead of the England visit to begin the 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, the youthful player is predicted to captain the Men in Blue in the longest format.
The Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill has come up as a prospective leader in the recent times leading the national team in five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe in 2024 and the Gujarat Titans GT in the Twenty-20 IPL for the last two seasons.
However, his performances in the longest format, particularly away from home, are what hold him back. After Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Test debut, Gill was moved to No. 3, and he hasn’t been able to stay consistent since. Although the right-handed batter has displayed moments of genius at home, his road record is, to put it mildly, worrisome.
Shubman Gill only managed to score 93 runs at an average of 18.60 in five innings during his disappointing 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign. He was even benched for the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s (MCG) Boxing Day Test. His results against South Africa and the West Indies in the remaining away games of the WTC 2023–25 cycle were likewise far from stellar.
Srikkanth expressed doubt on how a player of that caliber could be selected for Test captaincy and believes that KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, or Jasprit Bumrah need to be given preference.
“He (Gill) is not even a certainty in Test cricket. The captaincy should be given to Jasprit Bumrah, and if he is not fit or available for any match, then KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant should lead India,” Srikkanth told the Times of India (via Hindustan Times).
As India’s captain without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Gill has a great deal of responsibility. His dismal performance in England, where he has only amassed 88 runs at an average of 14.67 in three Test matches, only heightens the worry.
“KL Rahul should be given that position” – K Srikkanth backs Karnataka star to be India’s No. 4 in Tests
Virat Kohli’s retirement has left Team India with the enormous task of selecting a new No. 4 before the England visit. For the first time in a long time, the Men in Blue are uncertain about the key middle-order position.
Srikkanth believes that KL Rahul should be given the position above the other applicants because of his background and set of abilities.
“Coming to the question about India’s next No. 4 in Test cricket, for me, KL Rahul should be given that position. He can be India’s lynchpin going forward in Test cricket. He has got the right technique, and the management should give him that fixed role.”
K Srikkanth
KL Rahul has moved to the bottom middle-order in Tests following his comeback because there was no room at the top. Along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, the batter is a contender to continue playing the role against the new ball after making an impression as an opening batsman during the 2024–25 Border–Gavaskar series.
He had opened the batting in the place of Virat Kohli during the first Test in Hyderabad against England during his country’s home series. But he could not enjoy an extended spell in the position because he picked up an injury and missed the rest of five-game affair.
