India are set to embark on a five-Test tour of England, beginning June 20 at Headingley in Leeds, in what promises to be one of their most testing assignments in recent times. With the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin, and pacer Mohammad Shami ruled out due to injury, the visitors head into the series with a fresh-looking squad under new captain Shubman Gill.
The 25-year-old Gill has been handed the Test reins in the wake of Rohit Sharma's retirement and will lead a side short on experience and match practice. The team will enter the first Test without a warm-up game, adding to the challenge. Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will be available for only four of the five matches, further complicating India’s plans for a full-strength attack.
The squad features a mix of promising talent and returning faces, but key questions remain unresolved. The opening combination is still undecided — whether Gill continues at the top and is partnered by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran or a makeshift option like K.L. Rahul is unclear. Similarly, the No. 4 spot vacated by Kohli remains up for grabs.
Notably, in-form middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has not been included in the squad. Karun Nair, who recently scored a double century for India A against England Lions and boasts a triple century in Test cricket, has earned a recall but is not guaranteed a place in the playing XI.
At the pre-departure press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, both Gill and newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir remained tight-lipped about team combinations. Gambhir confirmed that decisions around Bumrah’s appearances and batting roles were still pending.
We haven’t taken that call. A lot will depend on the results of the series, and we’ll have a discussion with him. That is something he is also aware of,” Gambhir said when asked about Bumrah’s availability across the tour.
The coach did, however, express confidence in the depth of India's pace attack. “We’ve picked enough bowlers and the fast bowlers are in a great space. Bumrah is irreplaceable, but this is an opportunity for someone else to step up. We’ve got a strong mix and enough quality,” he added.
He’s in great touch. That double hundred for India A and his experience playing county cricket will help. We will back him and not judge him on just one or two Tests.
Gill, who will be leading India for the first time in a major overseas series, appeared unfazed by the task ahead. “I don’t feel any added pressure. England are known for their aggressive Bazball style — we’ve seen that in India too. It’s a good challenge for us. If we are proactive in our plans and execution, we can put them under pressure,” he said.
As India prepare for a transitional tour without some of their longest-serving stars, all eyes will be on how this young team handles the rigours of English conditions — and whether a new era in Indian Test cricket can begin on a winning note.
