India have played Test matches without Virat Kohli. And without Rohit Sharma. On rare occasions, they’ve even played without both. But since 2011, they’ve never embarked on a full-fledged Test series without either of the two stalwarts.
That is, until now.
When India will take on England on 20 June, at Headingley in Leeds, it will mark the first occasion in 11 years that the team will not be able to call upon either Sharma or Kohli in any of the five matches, for they both have called curtains on their red-ball careers.
This context alone underscores the scale of the challenge that awaits India's newly appointed Test captain, Shubman Gill. Add to that — he is still merely 25, and England has not always been kind on the touring Indian side.
The million dollar — or rather, million pound question, ahead of the first bowl being bowled, remains whether Gill is ready for the challenge.
According to former cricketer Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, he is. In an exclusive conversation with The Quint, Vidyut — who is serving as an expert for the series on Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster — offered his candid views on India’s transition, Gill’s captaincy, and what lies ahead.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
What can the Indian fans expect from the new Test captain — Shubman Gill?
I think it’s going to be very interesting to see. Shubman Gill is rated very, very highly in India. He has the game, he has the potential to really lead the team. I think the Indian selectors are looking at the future — they feel Shubman Gill is the one to lead India not just in Tests, but eventually across all formats.
He’s led Gujarat Titans in the IPL, taken them to the finals, and they did well this year. There’s no doubt he has the potential. He’s also captained at the U-19 level. But having said that, I think Test cricket is going to be a different kind of challenge.
Ideally, if you ask me, maybe they could’ve looked at someone like KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant for a couple of years and then groomed Shubman to lead the team for the next five or six years. But the selectors have chosen a different path — they’ve decided to throw him in early, let him learn, let him make mistakes. They clearly believe he has it in him.
For all his white-ball brilliance, Gill is still only 25. Is the red-ball captaincy responsibility coming a bit too early for him?
Maybe, it indeed is a bit early. But he has the captaincy material — no doubt about that. He’s been direct at the T20 level, and mind you, captaining an IPL side is like leading a World XI. You have players from different countries, different temperaments, and he’s shown good skills leading that side.
That’s probably what the selectors saw — the spark. He’s won championships in the IPL, and while Test cricket will be more challenging, they’re backing him to do the job. I think he’s equipped to handle it, but it won’t be easy.
England is one of the toughest places to tour — the conditions, the crowds, a five-Test series... and now, with a new captain and two legends of the game having retired, everything’s stacked against him. It’ll be a real test of character — as a leader and as a batter.
Gill has his worst Test average in England — less than 15. Will that be a concern for India?
Shubman has done well in Australia and in the subcontinent. In England? Not yet. But does he have the game? Yes, I think he does. In Test cricket, especially in England, it’s all about adapting. The ball moves, then the sun comes out, it gets better for batting, and then suddenly it moves again. Conditions change quickly.
With captaincy on his shoulders, it’s going to be a tough ride. But he has the temperament. He’s got a young team, but they’re experienced in these conditions. You’ve got guys like Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan who’ve done well in county cricket.
It’ll be a challenge, but Shubman is a smart leader. He’s won under pressure before, and I genuinely feel he’ll come out of this very well — because he’s got the right temperament to lead.
Will the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have a mental effect on this otherwise young Indian team?
I don’t think their absence will have a mental effect on the team, but yes, it’s going to be difficult without them — especially Virat Kohli, who has done so well in England before. He knows the conditions and is still fit enough to score a lot of runs. Even Rohit has been excellent in red-ball cricket of late. Last time in England, he opened alongside KL Rahul and gave the team some superb starts. So, both of them knew exactly what to expect in those conditions — and that’s what we’re going to miss.
Virat’s leadership in England over the years, the culture he brought into the team, the fitness standards, and his relentless desire to win in SENA countries — especially alongside Ravi Shastri — was unbelievable. We owe a lot to him for instilling that mindset: to aim for the World Test Championship and stamp India’s authority in places like Australia and England, which is never easy over a five-Test series. That’s where we’ll really feel the absence of both Virat and Rohit. They’re legendary cricketers — especially Virat, who averages close to 47 in Test cricket and has scored all over the world.
And Rohit — initially known as a white-ball player — transformed his red-ball game remarkably. To open in England and deliver like he did was a revelation. So yes, it’s going to be hard. But I honestly believe India still has the resources to step up. Players like Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair have played and done well in county cricket — they know the conditions and what to expect.
Who will be India’s key players in this series?
I think Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will be crucial in this series. Our openers have to give us good starts. In the last tour, Rohit and KL were brilliant with the new ball, and that laid the foundation for the middle order. The way Jaiswal and KL batted in Perth against Australia gives me confidence that they can do it again.
Yes, Virat and Rohit will be missed. But with Jaiswal’s emergence as a Test batter, KL’s proven ability to step up, Karun’s experience in England, and of course, Rishabh Pant — who has a fantastic Test record in England — I believe we’re in safe hands. I have a strong feeling we’ll get the job done.
What is your preferred XI? Also, explain the rationale behind your picks.
I'll definitely go with Jaiswal and KL Rahul to open. Like I said, the way they batted in Perth on a green pitch in Australia’s second innings was great to see. They have the temperament to get the job done, even in England, which we know is never easy.
At No. 3, I’d go with Sai Sudharsan. Some may question that choice — he averages only around 37 in first-class cricket and is being picked largely based on IPL performance. But let’s not forget he has done well in white-ball cricket in places like South Africa and also impressed in county cricket. His technique is well-suited to English conditions — he plays the ball late and close to his body. I feel he’ll be a great fit.
Shubman Gill comes in at No. 4, with Karun Nair at No. 5. Karun has experience in England and a strong understanding of what’s expected from a middle-order batter in those conditions.
Then comes Rishabh Pant, the game-changer, followed by Ravindra Jadeja — who’s going to be a very important player in this series. Let’s not forget that Ashwin isn’t there anymore after retiring in Australia. So Jadeja will be my lone spinner. He’s also scored crucial runs in England before.
For the bowling attack, I’ll go with four quicks: Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh — who adds the left-arm angle. Depending on conditions, we could also consider dropping one pacer to bring in an all-rounder like Shardul Thakur or Nitish Kumar Reddy. But for the first Test, I’d look to go in with four fast bowlers and one spinner, aiming to take 20 wickets.
Why should Shubman Gill bat at No. 4 when No. 3 has been his recent position?
I think Sai Sudharsan is more suited to No. 3. Shubman Gill has played at No. 3 before, but I feel No. 4 will suit him better in a place like England. Especially if the openers and No. 3 get going, it’ll give him some time to settle. We’ve just spoken about him taking over as captain — if he has to come in within the first 2–3 overs, that’s not going to be easy. So I think Sai Sudharsan has both the temperament and the game for that role.
I’ve seen a lot of Sai — he’s from Tamil Nadu, and I’ve watched him bat and even spoken to him a couple of times. He has a strong desire to do well in Test cricket, and he’s shown the right approach. Even in the IPL, players like Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan didn’t play slam-bang cricket. They stuck to good, conventional cricket and got the job done.
So yes, I think Sai fits in perfectly at No. 3, and Shubman will be more effective at No. 4. Earlier, he didn’t have that option because Virat Kohli batted at 4, and Shubman had to play at 3. But now, I believe he’ll really excel at No. 4, especially in English conditions.
Karun Nair has had an exemplary domestic season and did well against England Lions. Is it time to pick him in the XI?
Yes, he has to be picked. It has been an inspirational comeback — especially for someone who scored a triple hundred against a team like England, and then had to sit out. He didn’t even have a state team for some time. But everyone has seen the journey he’s made. Hats off to him for the way he’s come back. It’s very important that he plays now because he’s in a great space mentally. He knows where his game is, and how to go about things in a place like England.
One thing about Karun Nair is that once he gets going, he’s very difficult to stop. He’s got three or four triple hundreds. In his last game, he got a double hundred. He has an unbelievable conversion rate. That will be very important. He knows that getting to 40–50 isn’t enough — he has to keep batting. That’s something India needs, because of late, we haven’t seen India bat long in the first innings. If Karun can get those big runs, it’ll be great for the team. In England, getting 350–400 in the first innings usually sets you up to win a Test match.
His role at No. 5 will be crucial. And trust me, he’s played that role a lot. He may not have a wealth of international experience, but his overall experience in the game — especially understanding what needs to be done in England — adds value. Playing close to the body, knowing when to leave the ball — these things matter there. England is not like Australia or South Africa, where you can trust the bounce and hit through the line after some time. In England, the ball moves throughout the game, and the conditions keep changing. When it’s hot, the pitch eases up. But within 3–4 overs, if it turns overcast, the ball starts moving again.
That’s the understanding someone like Karun Nair brings. And I really think this is going to be a great series for him.
Jasprit Bumrah will not feature in all five Tests, only three. Which ones should he play?
It's a fantastic question — and honestly, a very difficult one to answer. I think Bumrah has to play the first two Tests because it's crucial to build momentum early in a big series. If you do well in the first two games, more often than not, you end up winning the series.
According to me, he must play the first two Tests, and then you can look at giving him a rest — maybe in the third or fourth, depending on the situation — and then bring him back for the fifth. Or if the fourth Test is more important, play him then and rest him in the fifth.
Bumrah has to be managed very carefully. And early in the English summer, the ball tends to move a lot more, so for me, his presence in the first two Tests is non-negotiable.
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