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NEW DELHI: As India prepares to name a new Test captain while unveiling the squad for the crucial five-match series in England, former wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim has thrown his support behind Shubman Gill. In contrast, ex-chief selector Kiran More believes KL Rahul is the better option to lead the side.Following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket earlier this month, Gill has emerged as one of the leading contenders for the role. Rahul, who has captained India in three Tests previously, is also firmly in the conversation, especially given his consistent presence in the red-ball setup.Other names doing the rounds include pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah — who has led India in three Tests — and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. However, Bumrah may not be available for all five Tests in England, while Pant, despite his impressive record overseas, could be a strong candidate for the vice-captaincy instead.“You have Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant. Considering this is the start of a new WTC cycle, I would go with a young, talented leader—Shubman Gill. Although he’s yet to fully establish himself at the Test level, I’d like to see the selectors make a bold move,” said Karim on Follow The Blues – Selectors Meet episode on JioHotstar.
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“We’ve seen his leadership skills in the shorter format with GT, and he seems to be in a very happy space when leading. That should bode well for India,” added Karim, who has previously served as a national selector.
More, however, stressed the importance of experience, making his case for KL Rahul — expected to open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the upcoming series, having formed a solid partnership on the Australia tour.“I would go with KL Rahul — he’s an experienced campaigner. I don’t want to put too much pressure on Shubman Gill. He hasn’t done enough in Test cricket yet. He hasn’t played much domestic cricket either, so there’s a lot of learning still to do in the longer format,” said More.“Let him grow — maybe he can be vice-captain for a year or two. For now, KL Rahul is the right choice. He has the experience, temperament, and communication skills needed to lead,” he added.India’s high-stakes Test series against England, part of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle, will run from June 20 to August 4. The matches are scheduled to be played at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval. India will be aiming to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007.
