5 Youngest Indian Test Captains

Several eyes were on India’s future Test captain after Rohit Sharma informed his decision to retire from the longest format. During the 16-member squad announcement for the five red-ball clashes against England, the Blue Brigade declared Shubman Gill their new red-ball leader.

Rishabh Pant will remain Gill’s deputy. Ajit Agarkar, the Men’s chairman of selectors, clarified that Jasprit Bumrah, who led the national side in the five-day format, wasn’t considered for the leadership. This is because the pacer is unlikely to feature in five games in England due to workload management.

At the age of 25 years and 258 days, Gill becomes the fifth-youngest player to lead India in Tests.

Here are the five youngest Indian Test captains

1. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (21 years 77 days)

During the third Test at the Kensington Oval in Barbados against the West Indies, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi led the Indian side. At 21 years 77 days, he remains the youngest leader for the national side. In the first innings, he was the joint leading run-getter of the side with 48 runs, along with Salim Durani.

The Madhya Pradesh-born notched up 2793 runs in 83 Test innings in his career at an average of 34.91, celebrating six centuries and 16 fifties at the best score of unbeaten 203 runs.

Also Read: 4 Players Royal Challengers Bengaluru Will Retain For IPL 2026

West Indies went on to win the Test match by an innings and 30 runs. In his captaincy career of 40 games, he carried them to nine victories at a win-loss ratio of 0.47.

2. Sachin Tendulkar (23 years 169 days)

Sachin Tendulkar is India's second-youngest captain in red-ball clashes. He achieved the feat during the one-off Test in Delhi in 1996 against Australia. In reply to the tourists’ 182 runs in the first innings, the Blue Brigade registered 361 runs on the board, thanks to Nayan Mongia’s 152-run knock.

The home side went on to claim victory during the encounter by seven wickets. For the next four years, the Mumbai-born captained them in 25 red-ball clashes with just four wins and nine defeats.

3. Kapil Dev (24 years 48 days)

At the age of just 24 years and 48 days, the Haryana all-rounder Kapil Dev remains the third youngest Test captain for the national side. He marked his first feat against the West Indies in 1983 at the Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

Kapil picked up four wickets in the home side’s first innings to bundle them out for 254 runs and gave away a lead of just three runs. India fell like a pack of cards in the second innings and earned a defeat by four wickets to end the clash.

However, Kapil, in the next four years, led the side to 34 encounters for four wins and seven defeats with a ratio of 0.57.

4. Ravi Shastri (25 years 229 days)

Ravi Shastri is fourth on the list of most successful Test captains for the Blue Brigade at 25 years and 229 days. This feat came against the West Indies in 1988 in Chennai.

The home side posted 382 runs on the board, thanks to the 109-run knock from Kapil Dev. Shashti picked up one wicket in the second innings as the visitors could get 184. Narendra Hirwani ran through the batting in the second innings with eight wickets to earn the victory by 255 runs.

Also Read: 4 Players Mumbai Indians Will Retain For IPL 2026

That was his only Test as an Indian Test leader.

5. Shubman Gill (25 years 285 days)

On June 20, against England at Leeds in Headingley, Shubman Gill will become the fifth youngest Indian Test captain. He replaces Rohit in the list and will miss the experience of both the Nagpur-born and Virat Kohli.

After slipping in the previous World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle, they hope to come up with a better performance and at least qualify for the final.