Rishabh Pant's Appointment As Test Vice-Captain Explained: BCCI Says "Wicket-Keeper..."

Batting star Shubman Gill was on Saturday entrusted with India's Test leadership to steer through a "massive transition" phase with the swashbuckling Rishabh Pant as his deputy for next month's tour of England that is expected to be nothing short of a trial by fire. At 25 years of age, Gill will be India's fourth youngest Test captain after Sachin Tendulkar (23), Kapil Dev (24) and Ravi Shastri (25). The five-match series against England will begin on June 20 in Leeds. "Last year or so we have looked at Shubman (for leadership). We are hopeful he is the guy who is going (to take the team forward). It is a high pressure job but he is a terrific player. We wish him all the best," said chief selector Ajit Agarkar after announcing the squad, which offered no major surprises.

"Pant is one of our best batters in Test cricket over the last four-five years. A wicketkeeper can see the game well and that's why he is Shubman's deputy," Agarkar added while explaining the 27-year-old Pant's role.

The selectors' decision on the team's leadership was on expected lines following the retirement of senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom called it quits within a week of each other earlier this month.

Young left-hander B Sai Sudharsan and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh earned their maiden Test call-up.

"Sai has not been picked based on IPL, he has shown the right temperament and has the game to succeed at the top level...we have been looking at him for a while," Agarkar said, referring to Sudharsan's fine IPL form.

Persistent Nair in; unfit Shami out

The squad also features Karun Nair, who returns to the national set-up after eight years. Having last played in 2017, Nair was dropped from the team soon after becoming the