Ricky Ponting supports Shubman Gill as a future long-term Test captain for India.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes that India has made the right choice in giving the Test captaincy to Shubman Gill, as the 25-year-old has ample time ahead of him to establish his credentials in the longest format. Ponting also affirmed that India has the capability to manage their transition more effectively than many other teams.

India will miss experienced players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, as the trio has declared their retirement from red-ball cricket. Mohammed Shami will also be absent from this series, likely due to fitness issues.

“I genuinely think it’s the right decision. Many pundits are questioning why they chose Shubman over Bumrah, but I find it quite straightforward,” Ponting shared with The ICC Review.
“Bumrah’s injuries have held him back in recent years, and that’s not ideal for a captain. You can’t have a captain who misses games intermittently, so I feel it’s the right call.”

“Now that the decision is made, they need to support him (Gill) and give him a substantial opportunity for an extended period,” he added.

Ponting noted that replacing seasoned players is always challenging, but he elaborated that India possesses the depth in their cricketing talent to navigate this situation better than other Test-playing nations.

“It’s always tough to fill the shoes of players who have been around for so long and have played extensive Test cricket. But if any country can adapt quickly, it’s India, thanks to the wealth of young talent they have,” Ponting stated.