The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to announce the Indian squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England later today in Mumbai, alongside the name of the new Test captain.
The series, part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship, begins on June 20 and will span five iconic venues: Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
This will be India’s first Test series since both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from red-ball cricket earlier this month, marking a major transition for Indian cricket.
Gill Tipped for Captaincy, Pant Likely Deputy
In the wake of Rohit’s retirement, Shubman Gill is the leading contender to take over the captaincy in the longest format. Rishabh Pant, who recently returned from a long injury layoff, is widely expected to be named vice-captain.
Pacer Jasprit Bumrah was also in contention but recurring injuries have cast doubts over his long-term availability. KL Rahul, another senior player, is reportedly not seen as a long-term option due to his age.
Middle Order Faces Major Rebuild
With Virat Kohli’s retirement, the selection committee is eyeing fresh faces to fill the void:
- Sai Sudharsan, with a stellar Ranji season (304 runs in 3 matches at 76.00), has emerged as a serious prospect.
- Shreyas Iyer, with 480 runs at 68.57 in the last Ranji campaign, is looking to reignite his Test career.
- Karun Nair, who last played a Test in 2017, is also in contention after a 863-run season for Vidarbha.
Bowling Line-up: Bumrah to Lead, Shami Doubtful
While Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead India’s pace attack, Mohammed Shami’s participation remains uncertain due to fitness concerns. A BCCI medical team recently assessed him in Lucknow, but early indications suggest he might not make the cut.
In Shami’s potential absence, the following pacers are in contention:
- Prasidh Krishna
- Akash Deep
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mukesh Kumar
- Yash Dayal
- Anshul Kamboj
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Harshit Rana
Press Conference Scheduled
Following the selection meeting, a press conference will be held in Mumbai to officially announce the squad and answer media questions.
India’s England tour is seen as a crucial leg of the World Test Championship cycle, and with a new leadership group and fresh faces, it marks the dawn of a new era for Indian Test cricket.