India Squad For England Tests After Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma’s Retirement

With the retirement of two experienced campaigners, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, from Test cricket, India will face an uphill task during the upcoming five-match series in England to start the fourth cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27.

Along with both these batters, it’s worth remembering that the ace off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has also retired from the five-day format late last year during the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 down under, just after the conclusion of the third Gabba Test.

India is likely to bring young batters for the England series

With the Blue Brigade losing their core players, the red-ball side is set to give a dry look in tough swinging conditions. Not qualifying for the final of the third cycle of the competition, including two successive series defeats at home against New Zealand and Australia down under, will increase pressure on the national side.

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In Rohit’s absence, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will likely open the batting with a potential debutant, Sai Sudharsan, coming at number three. In the backup option, the selectors may look to use Devdutt Padikkal in the red-ball squad, who has notched up 90 runs in two Tests for India, thanks to the best score of 65 runs in Dharamsala.

As the reports have claimed, Shubman Gill will lead the Indian team and can be a valuable option at number four. Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan can handle the middle order at numbers five and six. Dhruv Jurel’s calm nature will also be vital for the national side and can be kept in the squad.

For the backup options, the national selectors will be tempted to bring Karun Nair back in the squad, after the right-handed batter’s special contribution for Vidarbha in the recent Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season with 863 runs in 16 innings at an average of 53.93 and a strike rate of 50, thanks to four centuries and two fifties.

Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel to shine in India’s all-rounders’ department

Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are the two left-arm spin bowling options for India. The former is one of the veterans of the side now, having loads of experience playing in England for the last three trips in 2014, 2018, and 2021.

Axar Patel has been fantastic for the two-time runners-up of the WTC and will be valuable at some point in the side. Reports informed that Shardul Thakur is likely to rejoin the squad after being out of the side for the last few series.

Nitish Kumar Reddy displayed his immense skill in batting and bowling in the Australia series and will be a huge asset for the Indian side in the England series. His inclusion will stretch their batting to number eight, which is very important for the opening Test of any trip, especially playing at Leeds in Headingley.

Jasprit Bumrah to lead India’s bowling department

Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack for the England series. Mohammed Shami, who missed both the New Zealand series at home and the Australia trip down under due to various injuries, will boost the team's bowling department.

Mohammad Siraj had a decent time down under and will be looking to extend his prime form with the red cherry. Harshit Rana and Aakash Deep are the two backup options for the national side.

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With the summer going on, the change of weather will start to dry some of the surfaces, and the tracks may help the spinners on a few grounds like Edgbaston and the Kennington Oval. Kuldeep Yadav’s role will be essential in those conditions.

India’s probable Test squad vs England

Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav.

India’s probable starting XI vs England:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj.