There were a few surprises, several bold decisions, and a couple of baffling omissions in India’s Test squad for the tour of England, starting on 20 June. A large 18-man squad was named for India’s first series following the retirements of Virat Kohli, R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma – which also marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle.
As reported, Shubman Gill has been appointed India’s 37th Test captain. The 25-year-old was chosen ahead of Jasprit Bumrah, who had served as vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named vice-captain, signalling a fresh era for the Indian Test team.
Familiar names such as Gill, Bumrah, Pant, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja feature in the squad. Notable omissions include Mohammed Shami, ruled out due to fitness concerns, and Sarfaraz Khan.
Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur return to the Test setup for the first time since 2018 and 2023 respectively.
Meanwhile, opener Sai Sudharsan and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh have received maiden Test call-ups.
Despite the absence of stalwarts Kohli and Rohit, India have assembled a squad that strikes a balance between youth and experience. However, the selectors have resisted the urge to recall veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane despite their experience in English conditions.
The squad includes five frontline pacers, two fast-bowling all-rounders, and three spinners.
Many players, including captain Gill and newcomer Sudharsan, will also represent India A – led by Abhimanyu Easwaran – in three four-day practice matches starting 1 June.
INDIA’S TEST SQUAD FOR THE ENGLAND TOUR
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Batters: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair
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Wicketkeepers: Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain)
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All-rounders: Nitish Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
CAPTAINCY: WHY GILL, NOT BUMRAH?
The selectors and head coach Gautam Gambhir have made it clear that India are planning for the future. By appointing Shubman Gill – who is still establishing himself in the Test side – they’ve opted for a long-term leadership strategy.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, speaking after the squad announcement in Mumbai, said feedback from the team over the past two years indicated Gill has leadership potential.
“You don’t pick captains for one or two tours,” Agarkar said.
“We’ve seen improvement in his leadership – yes, in T20 cricket with Gujarat Titans – but we take feedback from various sources. We’re hopeful he’s the right person to lead this team.”
He acknowledged the challenge of leading in a five-Test series in England but expressed confidence in Gill’s ability to grow into the role.
Agarkar also shared details of his conversation with Bumrah, who was informed he wouldn’t be considered for the captaincy given his limited availability.
Bumrah, who continues to manage a recurring back issue, had previously served as vice-captain and even led India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, injury forced him out of the series finale in Sydney.
“He’s more important to us as a bowler,” said Agarkar. “Captaincy brings additional demands. We’d rather have him focused on bowling than carrying that extra burden.
“He understood. We spoke with him – he knows his body and wants to manage it properly.”
A NEW-LOOK BATTING LINE-UP
India have included Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Karun Nair in the batting group, while leaving out Sarfaraz Khan. KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill are expected to shoulder the bulk of the run-scoring, with selectors hoping at least one of the newcomers or Nair can make an impact.
Sudharsan, who has piled up runs across formats and enjoyed stints in County cricket, could be in contention for a debut in the first Test.
Easwaran continues to enjoy the backing of the selectors and could feature in the series. As for Karun Nair, Agarkar explained that his experience in the absence of Kohli was a deciding factor over Sarfaraz’s exclusion.
“Karun has scored heavily in domestic cricket, has Test and County experience. With Virat missing, we’re short on experience in the middle order, and felt his profile suited that need,” Agarkar said.
Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja will be expected to play senior roles in guiding the batting unit.
Shreyas Iyer’s omission raised eyebrows, especially after a solid domestic season with Mumbai. However, Agarkar indicated that the management still has concerns about Iyer’s game against pace in overseas conditions.
The big question about who will replace Virat Kohli at No. 4 remains unanswered. Agarkar said captain Gill and coach Gambhir will take a call on that after reaching England.
While Gill is the frontrunner to drop to No. 4 spot, performances in the India A matches will be taken into account.
ALL-ROUNDERS IN ABUNDANCE
India have named four all-rounders. Shardul Thakur returns, joining Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja.
It’s likely to be a direct contest between Nitish and Shardul for the seam-bowling all-rounder’s spot. Despite a modest IPL 2025, selectors may be inclined to back Nitish.
VARIETY IN THE BOWLING ATTACK
Kuldeep Yadav is the only specialist spinner, with Jadeja expected to serve as the lone spinner in the XI, as has been the trend overseas in recent years.
The pace unit looks strong, although Bumrah is not expected to play all five Tests. Agarkar confirmed that while Bumrah remains the leader of the attack, the decision was made to manage his workload carefully.
Mohammed Shami has not been included, with Agarkar revealing that the senior pacer is not fit enough for Test cricket at present. Shami, who struggled in the IPL 2025 after returning for the Champions Trophy, has been dealing with multiple injuries.
India also chose to overlook Harshit Rana, opting instead for Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep. Harshit’s hit-the-deck style was deemed less suited to English conditions.
With Bumrah’s availability uncertain, Arshdeep Singh has been drafted in. The left-arm seamer has been impressive in white-ball cricket and had a successful County stint, where he showcased his ability to swing the Dukes ball.
“He’s a quality bowler, has County experience, plays domestic cricket regularly. He’s tall, can swing the new ball, and has built a decent body of work in red-ball cricket over the past couple of years,” said Agarkar.
“With Bumrah unlikely to play all five Tests, we felt the need to add some variety to the attack.”
ENGLAND VS INDIA, TEST SERIES SCHEDULE IN 2025
- 1st Test: June 20-24 – Headingley, Leeds
- 2nd Test: July 2-6 – Edgbaston, Birmingham
- 3rd Test: July 10-14 – Lord’s, London
- 4thTest: July 23-27 – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
- 5th Test: July 31-August 4 – The Kia Oval, London