India’s tour of England will mark the beginning of a new cycle for Indian cricket. With Rohit Sharma retiring and Virat Kohli likely to follow suit, there is a strong possibility that a new captain will lead the troops out in Headingley on June 20. The team selection is still about a week away and equations can change with a couple of old hands also in the fray, but the chances of a new leader in Shubman Gill is more than a reality. TOI takes a look at the candidates who will be in fray for the top job.Shubman Gill:Pros: The overwhelming favourite at this stage. He is India’s ODI vice-captain and has been leading Gujarat Titans in the IPL quite brilliantly this season. The decision makers feel Gill is a combination of quality and charisma — two things that are crucial to become the captain. There are whispers in the corridors of power that Gill has already been told he will lead the team in England, so that he can make his mental preparation.Cons: The only worry about Gill is his away Test record. Outside the subcontinent, Gill averages 25.42 in 13 games — numbers that don’t exactly justify his talent. But then, after the England series, India play most of their cricket at home for the next one year and Gill, a supreme player of spin bowling, will get good enough time to settle into his role.
Rishabh Pant:Pros: Had it been before the Australia series, Pant would have been the favourite. But things didn’t go too well for him in Australia and as Lucknow Supergiants captain in IPL, Pant hasn’t exactly found his rhythm. But no one can really question the quality that Pant brings to the table as a Test player, his away Test average of 37 over 30 games is better than most. But for now, the selectors are likely to make him the vice-captain, an able deputy to Gill.Cons: Pant’s recent form and his equation with coach Gautam Gambhir. It’s under Gambhir that Pant has lost his ODI and T20 places and his reckless batting in Melbourne during the Australia series went a long way in India losing the series. Understandably, the management wasn’t happy with him, but no one doubts the explosive quality of India’s most successful wicketkeeper batsman in Tests
KL Rahul:Pros: He has captained India in Tests before and has been in a good run of form with the bat. Rahul could easily have been made an interim captain, a job that was done by Anil Kumble back in 2007-08, before MS Dhoni took over all formats. But these are different times and the selectors may feel that Gill is 100% ready for the job. In that case, there will be no reason to look back and make a 33-year-old the captain.Cons: Rahul, after a prolonged period of struggle, seems to have found his batting mojo and making him the captain may just put extra pressure on him. At a time when Indian cricket is going through a phase of transition, it is probably better to try and get the best of Rahul the batter.
Jasprit Bumrah:Pros: No one deserves it more than Bumrah. During the Australia series, he was inspirational when he led India to their win in Perth. Even in Sydney, when the baton was passed on to him for the second time, he did his best before breaking down. Bumrah is definitely India’s best player across formats, but it’s his body that may not always be on his side.Cons: If Bumrah is made the captain for the England series, it will almost be a given that he will not play five consecutive Tests. He tried doing that in Australia and ended up injuring his back, something that Indian cricket can’t afford over the next couple of years. But Bumrah will definitely be a little sore if he is not given captaincy and it will be on Gill to ensure that his spearhead doesn’t sulk.Dark horse: There were some sections of the selection committee who wanted Virat Kohli as the captain for the England series. The thought didn’t gain too much traction at that stage, but now that the legend wants to quit, will the BCCI try to saddle him with added responsibility so that he makes him available for the crucial series? Chances are very low, but stranger things have happened in Indian cricket.
