Table of Contents
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. The highly anticipated series is set to begin from June 20, with matches scheduled across 5 different venues. The squad includes a mix of experienced players, promising young talent and some exciting returnees as India prepares for one of the marquee contests of the Test calendar.
BCCI names captain and vice-Captain for the upcoming England tour
The suspense is finally over as the board has announced the new captain and vice-captain for the upcoming Test series. Shubman Gill has been named captain, with Rishabh Pant taking up the role of vice-captain. Both young leaders now shoulder the responsibility of guiding the team through one of the most challenging tours in the calendar. Jasprit Bumrah, one of the frontrunners in the leadership race, will instead focus on leading the pace attack. With the retirements of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the new leadership group enters a defining phase, tasked with maintaining India’s strong presence in red-ball cricket.
Ajit Agarkar, the Chairman of selection committee said in the press conference said that the selectors discussed every available option over the past year, observing Gill at various times and gathering extensive feedback from the dressing room. Though young, he has shown clear improvement. Captains are not chosen for just one or two tours, and over the last year or two, his progress has been evident. The challenge ahead is expected to be very tough, but there is confidence in his ability to lead the team.
“We discussed every option that’s there, over the last year or so, we’ve looked at Shubman at various times. Taken a lot of feedback from the dressing room. Very young, but there’s been improvement. You don’t pick captains for one tour or two tours. We’ve seen some progress over the last year or two with him. No doubt it’s going to be as tough as it gets” he stated in the conference.
Also READ: Aakash Chopra names Team India’s probable XI for the 1st Test against England
Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur return to the Indian Test side
India’s former triple centurion, Karun Nair has made a long-awaited return to the Test squad after seven years. His comeback is backed by an impressive domestic season, where he consistently delivered with the bat and reminded selectors of his potential in red-ball cricket. His experience and ability to play long innings could prove valuable in challenging English conditions.
Meanwhile, pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur also makes a return to the squad after being left out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25. Shardul had delivered a memorable performance during India’s last Test tour of England, contributing with both ball and bat. His ability to bowl with control and pick key wickets, along with adding quick lower-order runs, could be a big asset for the team in this crucial five-match series.
India’s Test squad for the England tour
Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC, WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav
India’s schedule for the England Test tour
- 1st Test: June 20–24, 2025 at Leeds
- 2nd Test: July 2–6, 2025 at Birmingham
- 3rd Test: July 10–14, 2025 at Lord’s
- 4th Test: July 23–27, 2025 at Manchester
- 5th Test: July 31–August 4, 2025 at The Oval
Also READ: Cheteshwar Pujara reveals his all-time India Test XI, makes some interesting choices
