R Ashwin Isn’t Sold on Shubman Gill Becoming India’s Next Test Captain 

R Ashwin raised questions about appointing Shubman Gill as India's Test captain, suggested Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah for a leadership role instead.

R Ashwin Isn’t Sold on Shubman Gill Becoming India’s Next Test Captain 

R. Ashwin questioned Shubman Gill's potential appointment as India's new red-ball skipper, backing Bumrah and Jadeja instead. (via Hindustan Times)

Former India spinner R Ashwin weighed in on the Test captaincy debate, raising concerns over Shubman Gill’s elevation to the challenging role. Ashwin backed experienced stars, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah to lead the Indian team, instead. 

The 2024-25 cricket season presented significant challenges for the Indian red-ball team, marked by both disappointing results on the field and coping with the departure of key players. India suffered two back-to-back Test series defeats, against New Zealand and Australia. Following the third Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, R Ashwin was the first one to announce his retirement.

The spinner led the line of veteran stars, who called time on their red-ball career. Ashwin, 38, retired at the end of an impressive career in Tests, scoring 3,503 runs and claiming 537 wickets in 106 appearances. Days ago, captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli shockingly announced their retirement from Test cricket, as well. Sharma informed fans of his decision on May 7, followed by Kohli, on May 12.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement from the longest format leaves a significant leadership void in the Indian Test team. The BCCI is yet to announce the squad for India’s upcoming red-ball tour to England, with discussions surrounding the appointment of a new captain taking center-stage. Reports suggest that 25-year-old batter Shubman Gill remains the front-runner to succeed Rohit Sharma as captain.

However, R Ashwin, questioned the appointment of a young player like Gill, as India’s red-ball skipper so early. Speaking on his YouTube show, the 38-year-old agreed with Jasprit Bumrah being named as the new Test captain, drawing parallels to Australian skipper Pat Cummins‘ success. However, he expressed concern about Bumrah’s history of recurring injuries and the increased burden of leadership.

Ashwin in turn, suggested the BCCI explore a ‘wildcard’ option of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, as India’s next red-ball skipper. He interestingly noted that Jadeja is a deserving contender to lead the team, pointing to the vast experience that he possesses. Ashwin proposed that the 36-year-old could be named India’s temporary Test captain for the next two years, with Shubman Gill serving as his vice-captain. He stated on his YouTube channel:

First of all, everyone is saying that [Shubman] Gill is the captain. Everyone is going in that direction. But there is a loud option in Jasprit Bumrah, and why do we forget about Ravindra Jadeja.

He further elaborated that this arrangement would offer the Gill valuable mentorship and prepare him for future captaincy. Additionally, Ashwin noted that a strong performance in the 2025 IPL season with the Gujarat Titans could enhance Gill’s leadership qualities and strengthen his claim to be India’s next Test captain, while even advising him to continue playing first-class cricket. Ashwin added:

If you are willing to go for a new person as captain, I would say why not make him [Shubman Gill] an understudy of an experienced guy for two years before handing him the job on a full-time basis.

Nonetheless, it remains to be seen who is appointed as India’s next Test captain, ahead of the England tour. Following Ashwin’s endorsement, Jadeja, who is the team’s most experienced Test player now with 3,370 runs and 323 wickets in 80 matches, could be a viable option. 

R Ashwin believes Virat Kohli retired too soon from Test cricket

Ex-Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his firm belief that Virat Kohli still had one or two more years of Test cricket left in him. Ashwin’s revelation comes days after Kohli decided to call time on his 14-year long red-ball career, through a social media message. 

R. Ashwin on Virat Kohli retirement
R. Ashwin suggested that Virat Kohli still had a few more years of Test cricket left in him. (via India Today)

Kohli retired after scoring 9,230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85. Ashwin, who spent a significant part of his Test career under Kohli’s leadership, claimed that the 36-year-old did have a few more years of cricket left in him, and that he should have continued playing. He even added that pressure and the constant fitness requirements, is what drove Kohli to announce his retirement, too soon:

I can't help but feel Virat [Kohli] had one or two more years [of Test cricket] left in him. That particular question has been running in my head for a while now.

Ashwin himself had retired from Test cricket in December last year, midway through India’s Test series against Australia. For retired players like Ashwin, Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the 2023-24 Border-Gavaskar Trophy turned out to be their last Test series for India.