Is Shubman Gill India’s youngest Test captain? No – and it’s not Sachin Tendulkar either
There is much excitement following the weekend announcement that Shubman Gill would be the new Indian Test cricket captain. The Punjab-born prodigy has already played 32 Tests for his country, along with a further 76 white-ball games.
Despite such a prodigious body of work, he is only 25 years old.
While far from a child, Gill is still on the younger end of the scale when it comes to international captaincy duty. Becoming the leader of a cricket-obsessed nation’s Test team is no small task — especially for someone still navigating the early stages of their career.
But India has always been willing to back youth, and Gill now joins an exclusive club of players who took the reins at a young age.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the youngest ever captains in India’s Test history – and where Shubman Gill fits into that elite list.
5. Shubman Gill – 25 years, 285 days: vs England, Leeds, June 20, 2025
Shubman Gill will become the fifth youngest Test captain in Indian history with his appointment for the first Test against England at Headingley.
At 25 years and 285 days, he brings a fresh perspective and youthful leadership to a team in transition following the retirement of old hands like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Gill has already proven his mettle with the bat in overseas conditions, including a pivotal 91 at the Gabba in 2021.
Known for his calm demeanour and technical prowess, he has long been earmarked as a future leader. His leadership will now be watched closely – especially with tough assignments on the horizon.
4. Ravi Shastri – 25 years, 229 days: vs West Indies, Chennai, January 11, 1988
Before he was a commentator or the coach of team India, Ravi Shastri had a brief stint as captain. Though his captaincy lasted just one Test match, it came during a period of flux in India cricket.
At 25 years and 229 days, Shastri stepped in as a stand-in leader for the Chennai Test against a formidable West Indies side.
Though India lost that match, Shastri’s leadership qualities would emerge more fully in later years — particularly during his time as coach from 2017 to 2021.
3. Kapil Dev – 24 years, 48 days: vs West Indies, Kingston, February 23, 1983
The great Kapil Dev, best known for leading India to their first World Cup triumph later in 1983, first captained the Test side at just 24 years and 48 days old. His debut as skipper came against a dominant West Indies team in Kingston.
Kapil’s appointment was part of a generational shift, and although his captaincy had its ups and downs in the Test arena, his passion and fighting spirit made him an inspiring leader. He would go on to lead India in 34 Tests across two stints.
2. Sachin Tendulkar – 23 years, 169 days: vs Australia, Delhi, October 10, 1996
At 23 years and 169 days, Sachin Tendulkar was handed the reins amid enormous expectations. Already a global superstar, the ‘Little Master’ took over during a challenging time and led India in 25 Tests overall.
Despite his brilliance as a batsman, Tendulkar’s captaincy stint was widely seen as underwhelming, largely due to inconsistent team performances and a lack of strong support structures at the time. Still, his early promotion as skipper remains a testament to how highly he was rated.
1. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi – 21 years, 77 days: vs West Indies, Bridgetown, March 23, 1962
The youngest man ever to captain India in Test cricket – and the third youngest captain in Test history – Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was just 21 years and 77 days old when he took charge against the West Indies in 1962.
Thrust into the role after Nari Contractor suffered a life-threatening injury, Pataudi showed remarkable maturity and went on to lead India in 40 Tests.
He’s often credited with instilling self-belief and professionalism into the side. Under him, India won their first Test series away from home; against New Zealand in 1968.
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