India's Squad Announcement for England Test Series Set for Today
BCCI to Reveal Squad for England Tour
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 24: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee is poised to unveil the Indian cricket team's roster for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, commencing June 20, during a press conference in Mumbai.
This series is part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship and will take place from June to August 2025, featuring matches at iconic venues including Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord's (London), Old Trafford (Manchester), and The Oval (London).
This series marks India's first bilateral engagement following the recent retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket.
Alongside the squad announcement, the BCCI is expected to introduce the new Test captain.
With Rohit stepping down, Shubman Gill is the leading candidate to take over the captaincy, while wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is anticipated to serve as his deputy.
Although Jasprit Bumrah was considered a potential captain, his recent injury issues have diminished his chances. KL Rahul is another name in the mix, but his age at 33 raises concerns about his suitability for a long-term leadership role.
In light of Kohli's retirement, emerging talents like Sai Sudarshan, Shreyas Iyer, and Karun Nair are being eyed to fill the middle-order gap left by the former captain.
Sudarshan has made a name for himself in domestic cricket, showcasing his potential as an all-format player. The 23-year-old Tamil Nadu batter impressed with 304 runs in three Ranji Trophy matches, averaging 76.00, including a double-century, a century, and a fifty. Over 29 First-Class matches, he has accumulated 1,957 runs at an average close to 40, with seven centuries and five half-centuries.
The England tour presents a significant opportunity for Shreyas to solidify his position in the Test squad. After a period of being overlooked, he has made a strong case for selection with consistent performances, including 480 runs in five Ranji Trophy matches for Mumbai at an average of 68.57.
Karun, who expressed his desire for a second chance via a heartfelt tweet in December 2022, has capitalized on his opportunity in domestic cricket. He is notable for being only the second Indian to score a triple hundred and was the fourth-highest run-scorer in last season's Ranji Trophy, amassing 863 runs in nine matches at an average of 53.93.
In terms of bowling, Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the attack in England, supported by some fresh faces.
However, seasoned seamer Mohammed Shami may not travel to England for the Tests. A member of the BCCI medical team visited Lucknow this week to evaluate Shami's fitness ahead of Hyderabad's match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
While it remains unconfirmed whether the selectors will proceed without Shami, it seems likely they will err on the side of caution unless they receive a positive fitness report.
Should Shami be unavailable, potential replacements include Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, and Harshit Rana, alongside Bumrah.