Courtesy: BCCI “X” handle
India’s Test Squad for England Tour Announced: Shubman Gill to Lead, Rishabh Pant Named Vice-Captain
As anticipated, the BCCI has announced an 18-member Indian Test squad for the upcoming tour of England. In a significant shift, Shubman Gill has been named captain, marking the beginning of a new era in Indian Test cricket. Rishabh Pant returns to the side not just as the lead wicketkeeper, but also as the vice-captain for the high-stakes tour.
🇮🇳 India’s Squad for England Test Series 2025
- Shubman Gill (Captain) – Punjab
- Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain, WK) – Delhi
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – Mumbai
- KL Rahul – Karnataka
- Sai Sudharsan – Tamil Nadu
- Abhimanyu Easwaran – West Bengal
- Karun Nair – Karnataka
- Nitish Kumar Reddy – Andhra Pradesh
- Ravindra Jadeja – Saurashtra
- Dhruv Jurel (WK) – Uttar Pradesh
- Washington Sundar – Tamil Nadu
- Shardul Thakur – Mumbai
- Jasprit Bumrah – Gujarat
- Mohammed Siraj – Hyderabad
- Prasidh Krishna – Karnataka
- Akash Deep – West Bengal
- Arshdeep Singh – Punjab
- Kuldeep Yadav – Uttar Pradesh
🗣️ Selection Insights: Why No Shami, and Gill Over Bumrah?
At the press conference, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and Selector Shiv Sundar Das addressed key selection decisions. Mohammed Shami was not considered due to ongoing medical concerns. On the question of leadership, Agarkar clarified that while Jasprit Bumrah was a strong contender, his uncertain availability across all five Tests led to the selection of Gill as captain for better continuity.
📌 Squad Analysis: Promising Yet Unsettled Top Order
On paper, the squad has depth and promise. However, India will need to address key questions at the top of the batting order. The likely combinations could see:
- KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening the innings
- Sai Sudharsan or Abhimanyu Easwaran at No. 3
- Shubman Gill anchoring the middle at No. 4
- Followed by Pant, Jadeja, and the lower middle-order
The final XI will ultimately be decided by Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and Captain Shubman Gill, based on pitch conditions and form.
🌍 County Experience: A Valuable Edge in English Conditions
While names like Arshdeep Singh, Sai Sudharsan, and Karun Nair may be new to Test cricket in England, many of them have county cricket experience under their belts. That familiarity with English pitches and weather will be a crucial asset in the challenging five-Test series.
🏏 Transition Phase: New Faces Step Up as Rohit & Kohli Bow Out
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, India officially enters a transition phase. This tour offers a golden opportunity for the younger generation to step up and fill the massive void left by two modern-day legends. The likes of Gill, Pant, and Jaiswal must now shoulder the responsibility and inspire the next chapter of Indian Test success.
💬 Final Word
The selectors have shown faith in form, fitness, and future potential. For those who made the squad, this is a massive opportunity to cement their place in a rebuilding Indian Test setup. For those who missed out—let your performance do the talking. Let your bat speak louder than your tweets.
Wishing the best to Team India for the England tour. It’s time to go ‘Chak De’ and take the legacy forward!
Written by Sourabh Sanyal