Shubman Gill has officially been named India’s new Test captain, taking over from the seasoned Rohit Sharma ahead of the high-stakes five-match Test series against England starting June 20. At just 25, Gill becomes one of the youngest players to lead India in the longest format, marking a significant generational shift in Indian cricket.

Reacting to the announcement, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh welcomed the move and praised the BCCI for showing faith in young leadership. However, he also issued a word of caution, highlighting the challenging nature of English conditions and the absence of two stalwarts—Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

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“It’s a bold and positive decision to appoint Shubman Gill. He’s performed well in franchise cricket and shown maturity,” said Harbhajan Singh, speaking to India Today. “But a Test series in England is no easy task, especially with Kohli and Rohit no longer in the setup. The leadership burden will be heavy, and Gill, along with Rishabh Pant, will need to step up and guide this young team.”

Harbhajan Singh emphasised the importance of patience from fans and cricketing stakeholders, particularly if the tour doesn’t yield immediate success.

“We shouldn’t be too quick to judge Shubman or the team if things don’t go their way. These tough experiences in England will help them grow. Winning is great, but learning from adversity is just as crucial. I’m confident they’ll return stronger.”

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While this will be Gill’s first assignment as Test skipper, he has some leadership experience under his belt, having led India to a 4-1 T20I series win in Zimbabwe last year. As he prepares to step into a role once held by legends, all eyes will be on how the young Punjab batter handles both the bat and the captaincy reins in what promises to be a defining chapter of his career.