Shubman Gill Replacements- 3 Players Who Can Captain India's Test Team vs Afghanistan

Shubman Gill for India [Source: AFP]

As per a recent development, current India Test captain Shubman Gill and pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah might be omitted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, from the upcoming India vs Afghanistan one-off Test.

The Test match is set to take place on June 6 and is scheduled very close to the conclusion of IPL 2026. Given that players involved in the IPL will require rest before and after the exclusive series, the selection committee is considering resting a few key players like Gill and Bumrah.

Notably, the India vs Afghanistan series is also not a significant part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 cycle. Hence, the decision to rest Shubman Gill, the captain, might be a smart move on the part of the BCCI.

However, they will still face the task of appointing a new captain in Gill’s absence. So, let’s take a look at which players in the current India Test setup could be suitable to lead the side in the Afghanistan Test.

3) Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja is one of the most suitable candidates to take over the captaincy from Shubman Gill in his absence. He is currently the most experienced Indian player in the Test setup and has also served as the team's former vice-captain earlier.

Jadeja can be a solid candidate since he is already the de facto leader of the team. He is often seen steering bowling plans on crucial days and also sets up the intensity on the field.

As one of the super seniors, Ravindra Jadeja also acts as a vital link between the management, the coaching staff, and the other younger players in the squad.

Jadeja also has a good understanding of Indian tracks, where he can effectively manage field placements and batting orders as per the needs of the team.

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With 348 Test wickets, Ravindra Jadeja is a premier threat in subcontinental conditions and will be one of the best bets for India as a captain.

Hence, overall, his experience as an all-rounder in the lineup and coordination with youngsters and senior players will make him a good choice as a captaincy candidate in place of Gill.

2) KL Rahul

KL Rahul will be one of the top choices in the absence of Shubman Gill, given the fact that he has some real experience leading India in whites.

While he offers an experienced leadership profile from the IPL, he also has a 66.7% win rate for India in Test matches. Notably, KL Rahul was appointed captain of the Indian men’s Test team back in 2022 in two series.

Against South Africa, KL Rahul captained the second Test in the absence of Virat Kohli but failed to secure a win. Nevertheless, in the Bangladesh series in December 2022, KL Rahul was again made captain, and this time, during the India tour of Bangladesh 2022, India won the two-match Test series 2-0.

Proving KL Rahul's successful captaincy stint, across all formats, Rahul also has a combined win percentage of 68.42%, which is significantly higher than Shubman Gill's 55.55% as of April 2026.

With seniority, experience, and leadership qualities, KL Rahul from behind the stumps will be an excellent candidate to fill Gill's void.

1) Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is an automatic choice for selectors as India's next Test captain in the absence of Shubman Gill. He is the designated vice-captain of the Indian Test cricket team, and he is also out of the ODI plans for India, which means his presence in the Test setup is more likely.

With Gill rested for the India vs Afghanistan one-off Test, Pant offers a fearless leadership style. Notably, Pant has also led India in a Test match against South Africa earlier in 2025.

Pant is also one of the match-winners for India, who can bail the team out of crunch situations. With eight Test centuries across Australia, England, and South Africa, Pant is poised to become the next India Test captain.

Nevertheless, with him out of the ODI setup and captaincy experience for Lucknow Super Giants, while also being the vice-captain of India, Rishabh Pant is likely to lead the race for captaincy candidates in the absence of Shubman Gill in the Indian Test team.

Speaking of his credibility with the bat, Rishabh Pant has played 86 Test innings, where he has amassed 3,476 runs at an average of 42.91 and a strike rate of 74.24, while having 8 centuries and 18 half-centuries to his name.

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