The fact that that a total team-man and a selfless-cricketer named Jasprit Bumrah informed the selectors that since he may not be able to play all Tests because of his back issue, the selectors could zero in at Shubman Gill as the new India captain, made the selection easier.  Bumrah will be at hand for Gill to lean on to and will also lead the bowling group as they try and plot the English batters’ dismissals.

There’s always been a great deal of discussion around the captaincy of the Indian cricket team. For far too long, it was perceived by the powers that be, that speaking good English was a prerequisite to being the Indian captain. It didn’t matter if you were cricket savvy and had the team behind you, but if you did not speak good English, there would be a frown on the faces of certain Brown sahibs. Thankfully, that time has passed and it is no longer important what MCC thinks of you, as long as you can rally and lead the troops into battle on the cricket field. It also helped if the captain of the Indian team was media presentable even if he did not always speak Queen’s English.  Shubman Gill’s appointment would delight those brown sahibs as he fulfills every requirement that they felt was needed to be the captain of the Indian cricket team, especially on a tour to old Blighty.