Former cricketer Aakash Chopra thinks that India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill should surround himself with a solid group of trusted players as they head to England for a 5-match Test series. This will be the first time in years that the team won’t have Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli playing in red-ball cricket.

While discussing the team on JioHotstar, Chopra suggested that Gill should form a core group of about 4 to 5 players for support. He named Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj as potential members of this new leadership group. Build a core team—bring in guys like Jaiswal, Rahul, Pant, Bumrah, and Siraj. These are the players who will stick with you over time. With a younger squad, it’s key for the captain to grow alongside the team. This is a chance to forge a culture and a story that everyone in the country can be proud of,” Chopra shared on June 5.

The Indian team is kicking off a new World Test Championship cycle with this series against England. In past WTC editions, India reached the finals twice, once under Kohli and once under Sharma, but lost to New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023. Last year, India really struggled in the final two Test series and didn’t make it to the finals.

There’s some uncertainty about Gill’s role as captain since he just locked down his spot in the playing XI. At only 25, he’s still growing as a Test player. Chopra advised that Gill could look to Kohli for inspiration without feeling pressured to bat at the No. 4 position that Kohli recently left. “You can admire what Kohli has achieved and his drive for runs, but the batting order is all about what works best for you. Shubman should find his own spot that suits the team. Learn from Kohli’s mindset and be ready to make sacrifices for the team,” Chopra concluded.

The lineup for the Indian team remains unclear, but it’s likely that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who opened in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, will take on that role again. It’s also expected that one of Karun Nair or Sai Sudharsan will step into the No. 3 position.