The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled a revamped squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, marking the end of the Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli era and introducing five new players.
Key Changes in India’s Test Squad
India’s squad for the England tour features five fresh inclusions, while six players from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have been left out:
✅ New Additions:
- Sai Sudharsan (Top-order batter)
- Karun Nair (Middle-order batter, returning after 8 years)
- Shardul Thakur (All-rounder)
- Arshdeep Singh (Left-arm pacer)
- Kuldeep Yadav (Wrist-spinner)
❌ Players Dropped:
- Rohit Sharma (Retired from Test cricket)
- Virat Kohli (Retired from Test cricket)
- Sarfaraz Khan (Excluded despite strong domestic performances)
- Ravichandran Ashwin (Retired from Test cricket)
- Devdutt Padikkal (Misses out due to injury)
- Harshit Rana (Dropped after struggling in Australia)
Leadership Transition and Squad Composition
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from red-ball cricket, the BCCI has appointed Shubman Gill as captain, with Rishabh Pant as vice-captain. The squad retains 13 players from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, ensuring continuity while integrating fresh talent.
Selectors’ Perspective on Squad Changes
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar defended the exclusion of Sarfaraz Khan, stating that despite his century against New Zealand, he failed to maintain consistency. Meanwhile, Karun Nair’s return is attributed to his strong domestic performances.
India’s England Tour Schedule
India’s five-match Test series against England begins on June 20, 2025, at Headingley, Leeds, marking the start of a new ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
