In a major shake-up in Indian cricket, Shubman Gill has been handed the reins of the Test team as captain for the upcoming England series, marking the beginning of a fresh chapter. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping down from red-ball duties, the spotlight is now firmly on a younger generation.

Quick Read

• Shubman Gill has been named the new captain of India’s Test team.

• Rishabh Pant is appointed vice-captain in the red-ball format.

• Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are not part of the leadership group.

• India A squad announced for warm-up matches ahead of the England tour.

• Sai Sudharsan earns maiden Test call-up after stellar IPL 2025.

• Ravichandran Ashwin has retired; Ravindra Jadeja remains the senior-most spinner.

• Five-match Test series begins on June 25, 2025, at Leeds and ends on July 31 at The Oval.

A New Era Begins in Indian Test Cricket

Indian cricket is entering a transformative phase. With legendary figures like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket, the BCCI has handed the leadership baton to 24-year-old Shubman Gill. Known for his composure, elegant stroke play, and maturity beyond his years, Gill’s appointment as Test captain marks a bold step into the future.

Supporting him in this new journey is wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who has been named vice-captain. Pant’s return to form after a long injury layoff seems to have earned him the board’s confidence not just as a player, but as a leader in the dressing room.

What’s surprising, however, is the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah from any leadership position. Also missing from the Test squad is senior fast bowler Mohammed Shami, possibly due to fitness or workload management concerns.

India A Squad to Get a Taste of English Conditions

Ahead of the five-Test series, the India A team will be playing a couple of warm-up matches to help players adapt to English conditions. The A squad is designed to mirror the main team’s composition and help selectors finalize their picks.

Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead the India A side, with Dhruv Jurel acting as vice-captain and wicketkeeper. Easwaran, who has consistently performed in domestic cricket, remains a strong contender for the second opener’s slot alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who are currently involved in the IPL playoffs, will join the A squad after the first practice match.

The full India A squad includes:
Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC & WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey.

IPL Stars Make the Leap to Test Cricket

Sai Sudharsan’s dream IPL season has opened new doors for him. The young southpaw has earned his maiden Test call-up, and fans are eager to see how his white-ball brilliance translates in the red-ball arena.

Arshdeep Singh, another left-arm pace option, has been included to bolster the bowling attack. With Ravichandran Ashwin announcing his retirement during the Australia tour earlier this year, Ravindra Jadeja now stands as the sole veteran spinner in the squad who has prior experience of bowling in English conditions.

The selectors have also added fast-bowling all-rounders like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur to give the side more depth and balance.

Full Test Schedule vs England (2025)

• 1st Test – Leeds – June 25

• 2nd Test – Birmingham – July 2

• 3rd Test – Lord’s, London – July 10

• 4th Test – Old Trafford, Manchester – July 23

• 5th Test – Kennington Oval, London – July 31

India’s Full Test Squad for England Tour 2025

Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice-captain & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav