The Indian cricket squad for the upcoming five-Test series against England is set to be announced on Saturday, stirring excitement and speculation across the cricketing fraternity. This series will mark India’s first Test campaign without former stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have retired from the format.
Reports suggest that the team’s batting order is nearly finalized. According to Cricbuzz, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal will partner KL Rahul at the top, while Shubman Gill is expected to move down to the No. 4 position. This adjustment opens the door for a new face at No. 3, with Sai Sudharshan and Karun Nair tipped to be in contention based on their impressive domestic performances.
Though Sudharshan is currently one of the standout openers in IPL 2025, he is unlikely to open the innings in Tests, paving the way for his selection in the crucial No. 3 spot. This strategic reshuffle aims to balance youth and experience in the Indian batting lineup.
On the bowling front, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami faces uncertainty over his place in the squad. Despite being fit and playing in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shami has not logged sufficient workload in the red-ball format to meet the demands of the England series. His last Test appearance was in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia.
BCCI’s medical team recently evaluated Shami’s fitness ahead of Hyderabad’s IPL game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but it remains unclear whether selectors will include him. It is widely expected that the team will take a cautious approach and may omit Shami unless a positive fitness report emerges.
The series is scheduled to kick off on June 20 at Headingley, with India keen to assert its dominance in English conditions despite the squad changes.
