India are set to take on England in a five-match Test series, beginning on June 20 at Headingley. The Indian team will be led by newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill, who is also set to lead one of the youngest and most inexperienced squads ever to tour English soil.
Gill has shown promise and leadership qualities, but several talented players have delivered strong performances on big stages, but were surprisingly left out of the squad. If given the opportunity, these players have the potential to outshine Gill and become future stars of Indian cricket. Here are three Indian cricketers who could become bigger than Shubman Gill if given a chance.
Here are the three Indian players who have the potential to become bigger than Shubman Gill if given a chance:
3. Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad has the potential to become a standout performer in Test cricket if given a consistent opportunity in the Indian squad. The right-handed batter has scored 2,632 runs in 65 First-Class innings at an average of 41.77. He made his debut for Maharashtra during the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy season, scoring a century and a fifty against Chhattisgarh, displaying his talent.
In the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, Gaikwad demonstrated his consistency, scoring 330 runs in five innings at an average of 66.00. His strong domestic performances suggest that he has the technique required to succeed at the highest level.
2. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is a promising player who deserves more consistent opportunities in the Indian Test team. The right-handed batter has made a strong comeback by delivering match-winning performances and leading his team to back-to-back titles. In the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy season, he scored 480 runs in seven innings at an average of 68.57. He was also a vital part of Mumbai’s winning 2023–24 Ranji Trophy campaign and played a crucial role in the 2024 Irani Cup.
In First-Class cricket, Iyer has scored around 6,363 runs and at the international level, he has scored 811 runs in 24 Test innings at an average of 36.86. In consideration to his domestic consistency and ability to perform under pressure, Iyer has the potential to play a more significant role in the Indian squad if provided with regular chances.
1. Rajat Patidar
The Madhya Pradesh cricketer Rajat Patidar is a player who has the potential to surpass Gill if given more consistent opportunities. In the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy season, he scored 529 runs in 11 innings. Patidar began his first-class career in the 2015–16 season, scoring a century on debut and followed it up with another in the very next match. But his most significant hundred came in the 2022 Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai, a crucial knock that played a pivotal role in securing Madhya Pradesh’s first title in 69 years.
In the 2025 IPL season, Patidar also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their maiden title after 18 years. In looking at his performances and ability to rise on big occasions, Patidar deserves more opportunities at the highest level and could well emerge as a bigger star.
