Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today announced India’s Senior Men’s squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, set to commence on June 20. In a significant transition, Shubman Gill has been named the new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant appointed as his deputy. This marks a new chapter for Indian Test cricket, following the recent retirements of seasoned campaigners Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin from the longest format.
The 18-member squad features a blend of established players and exciting new talents, along with a notable comeback.
Squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel1 (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.2
Key Highlights and Talking Points from the Squad Announcement:
- Shubman Gill takes the reins: At 25, Gill is set to become one of India’s youngest Test captains, signaling the BCCI’s long-term vision for leadership. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized that Gill is being looked at as a long-term option for the captaincy.
- Rishabh Pant named Vice-Captain: Pant’s strong performances in Test cricket over the past five years have earned him the vice-captaincy, with Agarkar highlighting his ability to read the game well from behind the stumps.
- Karun Nair’s emotional comeback: After a seven-year hiatus, Karun Nair, who famously scored a triple century for India in his third Test, has earned a recall. His impressive domestic season was a major factor in his inclusion, with Agarkar noting the experience he brings, especially in the absence of Virat Kohli.
- Maiden Test call-ups for Sai Sudarshan and Arshdeep Singh: Young left-handed batter B Sai Sudarshan and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh have received their maiden Test call-ups. Sudarshan’s strong temperament and recent form in domestic cricket and the IPL were highlighted, while Arshdeep’s county cricket experience and ability to provide a left-arm pace option were key to his selection.
- All-round quartet: India has continued its strategy of banking on a quartet of all-rounders, featuring two spin options in Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, and two pace all-rounders in Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
- Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management: While Jasprit Bumrah is included, chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that the star pacer is unlikely to be available for all five Tests due to workload management, based on advice from physios and doctors.
- Notable omissions: Senior pacer Mohammed Shami was not included due to fitness concerns, while Sarfaraz Khan and Shreyas Iyer were also left out.
The five-match Test series will kick off in Leeds on June 20, followed by matches in Birmingham, London (Lord’s), Manchester, and concluding at The Oval in London on August 4. This series will also mark the beginning of India’s 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, presenting a significant challenge and an opportunity for the new-look Indian side to establish itself on English soil.
