Shubman Gill's Gujarat Titans Partner May Replace Rohit Sharma in Indian Team

With Rohit Sharma announcing his retirement from Test cricket and even Virat Kohli following suit with similar intentions, the Indian team is set for a massive transformation. The retirement of these two cricketing legends from the longest version of the game has opened the door for new entrants to step in and fill the role, particularly for the England tour next time around. The more that the BCCI tries to persuade Kohli to remain, another name comes forth as a potential replacement for the veteran duo. His team name provided is Sai Sudharsan, a skilled and rising cricketer of the Gujarat Titans, the franchise team of Shubman Gill.

Official word on Rohit's exit from Test cricket has come, and since the tour of England is soon to happen in the not-so-distant future, no one can have any doubts about the team needing new faces. The BCCI, led by the Ajit Agarkar-headed selection committee, is going whole hog in identifying players who would be capable of stepping up to the occasion and taking the place of such senior cricketers. While efforts are being made to convince Kohli to stay available for at least the England series, no guarantees have been made about his future in Test cricket. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Kohli’s decision, the spotlight now falls on Sai Sudharsan as one of the most promising players in line for selection.

Sai Sudharsan has been impressive throughout IPL 2025, where he has shown exceptional skill and maturity. He has been one of Gujarat Titans' anchor players along with Shubman Gill, who have both been crucial to their team's success. With his technical prowess and game under different conditions, as a left-hand opener, Sudharsan has become the favorite to get into the Indian team's Test XI. As per media reports, the BCCI sees Sudharsan as an opener or a number three batsman to play in the team based on how the team's strategy for the English series is evolving.

The choice committee wishes it to occur with the Test team, specifically when there are top slots to be filled. Sudharsan has arrived on time, and he is already making a name as a prospect for the national side. Since the Indian team needs to give way for players, Sudharsan seems to be the choice among the rookies. His display in the IPL and domestic cricket has indicated that he can handle the pressure of international cricket.

Besides Sudharsan's potential inclusion, there has also been some debate in the BCCI about retaining Kohli as Test captain for the series against England. The selectors earlier had planned to consider giving the captaincy to Kohli on this tour so that Shubman Gill has enough time to develop into a leadership role. But Gill is just 25 years old and still hasn't been rated at his best. The non-availability of Jasprit Bumrah due to fitness issues is an added concern, as the team requires a leader who can provide stability in the transition period. This has made Gill an important member of the team, and the selectors are closely monitoring his performance.

While no conclusions have yet been reached regarding the leadership issue or the final squad for the England tour, the focus remains on building a side that can perform without some of its most experienced members. Sai Sudharsan's addition to the team would be a massive confidence boost for the young cricketer, and it would also show the growing pool of talent available in Indian cricket. The BCCI will continue to consider all the possibilities and finalize the team after taking a glance at the fitness and well-being of the players in the run-up to the tour.

The Indian cricket squad is evolving, yet it's a great moment for new cricketers like Sai Sudharsan to find his feet on the global stage. His inclusion could very well be the new start to the team as they begin their new innings of Test cricket with young cricketers putting upon themselves the responsibility of filling legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.