‘Pant is one of our best..’: BCCI explains Rishabh Pant’s selection as vice-captain of the Indian Test cricket team.

Shubman Gill has been handed the responsibility of leading India’s Test team as it enters a major transition phase, with the aggressive and in-form Rishabh Pant named as his vice-captain for the upcoming tour of England.

Batting sensation Shubman Gill was named India’s Test captain on Saturday to lead the team through a significant transition period, with dynamic Rishabh Pant appointed as his deputy for next month’s challenging England tour.

At 25, Gill becomes India’s fourth youngest Test captain, following Sachin Tendulkar (23), Kapil Dev (24), and Ravi Shastri (25). The five-match series against England is set to start 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.

India’s Squad for Test tour of England: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, K L Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun nair, Nitish Redddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhurv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep singh and Kuldeep Yadav.

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