'He is not even a certainty in Test cricket' - Kris Srikkanth disapproves of Shubman Gill as India's new Test captain

The Indian Test team is in the process of a significant leadership change, with a lot of experienced folks having departed. With Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli recently announcing their retirement from the longest format of the game, the national selectors' main challenge is to determine who will take over the reins of the team. According to reports, young Shubman Gill is the frontrunner to lead the side in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. 

However, former India cricketer and 1983 World Cup-winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth has criticized the decision, citing Gill’s lack of Test experience and leadership qualities, especially in overseas conditions.

"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 as quoted by Hindustan Times.

KL Rahul should be given No.4 position: Srikkanth

While the Punjab batter has led the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League and briefly captained India in T20Is, his Test numbers have grabbed eyeballs. Since being promoted to No. 3 after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s debut, Gill hasn't performed as expected of him.

In the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he managed just 93 runs across five innings at an average of 18.60 and was eventually dropped for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. His performances in other away tours, including the West Indies, South Africa, and England, have also been underwhelming.

On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah has come out to be a dependable player in the Test setup and previously led India in England and two Test matches in BGT. Srikkanth believes Bumrah would be a more suitable leader during this phase. However, if injuries keep Bumrah out, Srikkanth feels the responsibility should fall to either KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant, both of whom have considerable Test and leadership experience.

"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 linchpin going forward in Test cricket. He has got the right technique, and the management should give him that fixed role," Srikkanth added.