The wait is finally over. The BCCI has officially announced an 18-member Indian squad for the upcoming Test series against England. In a significant move, young batting sensation Shubman Gill has been appointed the captain of the team, while Rishabh Pant has been named vice-captain.
This bold decision reflects the confidence shown by head coach Gautam Gambhir and the selectors in Gill’s leadership potential. Having already proven his mettle as a captain in Under-19 cricket and the IPL, the 25-year-old Gill is now set to take charge of the national Test side for the crucial overseas series.
Tamil Nadu’s rising star Sai Sudharsan has been rewarded for his consistent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. The 23-year-old left-handed batter has been in sublime form and will be looking to make the most of this opportunity. His first-class record boasts 1,957 runs at an average of 39.93 in 49 innings, along with impressive numbers in List A and T20 formats.
Veteran batsman Karun Nair has made a much-awaited return to the Test side after several years. Last seen in Indian colours in 2017, the 33-year-old has displayed maturity and form in domestic competitions, earning his place back in the squad.
Shubman Gill (Captain)
Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain/Wicketkeeper)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
KL Rahul
Sai Sudharsan
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Karun Nair
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Ravindra Jadeja
Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper)
Washington Sundar
Shardul Thakur
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj
Prasidh Krishna
Akash Deep
Arshdeep Singh
Kuldeep Yadav
1st Test: June 20–24, 2025 – Headingley, Leeds
2nd Test: July 2–6, 2025 – Edgbaston, Birmingham
3rd Test: July 10–14, 2025 – Lord’s, London
4th Test: July 23–27, 2025 – Old Trafford, Manchester
5th Test: July 31–August 4, 2025 – The Oval, London
Historically, India’s performance on English soil has been underwhelming. Since 1932, India has played 67 Tests in England, with only 9 wins, 36 losses, and 22 draws.
As a new era begins under Shubman Gill’s leadership, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if Team India can turn around its fortunes in English conditions.
