India-England Test Series: Team Announcement and Selection Insights

The five-match Test series between India and England is set to commence on June 20, with the Indian team announcement expected on May 23. According to reports, Shardul Thakur may be included in the squad, while Sarfaraz Khan's chances appear slim.

Additionally, India A is scheduled to play an unofficial Test series against England Lions. Reports indicate that a meeting of selectors took place on May 6, just a day before Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, where the finalization of the India A team was discussed. An announcement is anticipated on May 13, with Abhimanyu Easwaran being a leading candidate for captaincy. However, some adjustments to the India A team may still occur.

India A will compete in three matches—two against England Lions and one against the senior Indian team. The selection for the senior team, under a new captain, is expected to be finalized on May 23. The selectors face challenges in forming the India A team due to complications arising from the IPL's postponement. Players not participating in the IPL and those from teams eliminated from playoff contention may be included, with additional players potentially joining for the second and third matches in England.

In addition to Abhimanyu Easwaran, players like Tanush Kotian, Baba Indrajith, Akash Deep, and Karun Nair are in contention for the initial India A squad. Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Reddy are expected to be part of the A team initially, with a possibility of later inclusion in the senior team. Shardul Thakur's inclusion in the senior squad seems certain, while there is no confirmed information regarding Ishan Kishan's selection. The chances of Andhra Pradesh's Ricky Bhui, the top scorer of the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season, being selected for the India A team also appear low.