India Test Squad Announcement For England Tour Highlights: Shubman Gill front-runner as Team India decides on new Test captain

Who can replace Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as per Vengsarkar?

"It is difficult to say who will replace them because it is up to (Ajit Agarkar) and Co. as they are selectors. They are observing FC matches (Irani Cup, Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy), and I think it's all up to them (selectors)," he told IANS.

Dilip Vengsarkar expressed his surprise at retirements of batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He expected them to step away after the England tour.

"Both have outstanding and great cricketers, and their contribution to Indian cricket is huge. I was surprised because there is an England tour of five Test matches. I thought after the England tour, they might call it a day, but they preferred it before the England tour. Then I think it's their call," Vengsarkar told IANS.

"Both are experienced players, and they have done so well in England on every tour, so it's a big loss. Then, if you see that other players have done well for the India A team, in first-class cricket in India, they will get an opportunity to play and establish themselves in the Indian team," he added.

Vengsarkar also praised IPL 2025 breakout stars Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre, along with Mumbai wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu, for their inclusion in the India U19 squad touring England.

Mhatre will lead the team on the tour, which includes a 50-over warm-up match, followed by a five-match Youth One-Day series and two multi-day matches against England U19 from June 24 to July 23. Kundu has been named as Mhatre’s deputy.

"It is very good that Ayush Mhatre, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Abhigyan Kundu have been named in the India U19 squad for England tour. I've seen Kundu, who is from Mumbai, playing; he is a very good player, a good keeper and a good thinker also. I have high hopes for him to perform well on the England tour. They have the platform to showcase their worth," Vengsarkar said.

"The exposure of IPL is very big and it is a great opportunity for them to score runs and win matches for their teams," he added.

When asked about the potential winner of IPL 2025, Vengsarkar backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru or Punjab Kings to claim their maiden title in the tournament.

"RCB and Punjab have been trying to lift the title for many years. I hope that one of these teams wins the IPL this time - it would be great for the team, franchise and owners," Vengsarkar replied.

Former India batter Dilip Vengsarkar believes the first two Tests in the upcoming five-match series against England will be pivotal for the visitors on this challenging tour, set to begin on June 20.

The 69-year-old veteran expressed confidence in the Indian team despite the recent red-ball retirements of senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli earlier this month. Vengsarkar, who played 11 Tests and scored 6,868 runs, is optimistic about the young talents stepping up during the series.

"We have a very good and capable team. India also have a good chance and the first two Tests will be crucial - it will largely determine how the team performs in the remaining matches of the five-Test series. I believe new players may emerge during this series, and I am hopeful that India will perform well," Vengsarkar said.

Former India batter Dilip Vengsarkar feels the first two Tests against England will be crucial from India's perspective. The 69-year-old veteran backed the Indian team for the five-match series despite the absence of retired Rohit, Kohli, Ashwin.

"We have a very good and capable team. India also have a good chance and the first two Tests will be crucial - it will largely determine how the team performs in the remaining matches of the five-Test series. I believe new players may emerge during this series, and I am hopeful that India will perform well," Vengsarkar told news agency IANS.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has spoken publicly for the first time about the recent Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, describing their decisions as deeply personal and deserving of full respect.

With India set to begin a challenging five-match Test series in England starting June 20 at Headingley in Leeds, Gambhir reflected on the significant void left by the departure of two of the team’s biggest icons.

“When you start your career and when you choose to end it, that’s entirely up to the individual,” Gambhir said.

Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan is delighted over his inclusion in the India A squad for the upcoming England tour, but his immediate focus remains on taking his team to Qualifier 1 and the final of IPL 2025. The 23-year-old, who previously impressed while playing for Surrey and scoring a century for the county side, is now eyeing a potential Test debut after being named in the India A and probable Test squad.

"Mentally, we will have to be switched on for the IPL first. Once that story is over, then we can probably think about the India 'A' story. But definitely happy for that opportunity, and I think I would have a great time there," Sudharsan told reporters on Thursday.

The Tamil Nadu batter currently leads the Orange Cap race with 638 runs in 13 matches and has been a key performer throughout the season.

"Right now, the most important thing is to finish in the top two so that we get an extra opportunity (of playing in Qualifier 2), if at all we need.

"The focus is more on that. Obviously, there are a lot of experiences and learnings in these 13 games (that we have played). So, we keep on filling the gaps wherever we feel like, and we will be ready for the playoffs." Sudharsan said.

Sudharsan has played a crucial role at the top of the order, combining with skipper Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler to form one of the tournament’s most consistent top threes.

However, against Lucknow Super Giants, all three were dismissed after getting starts, placing the onus on the middle order to chase down a challenging 236.

"I think the IPL is that kind of league where you can't experiment, even if you qualify early in the tournament. So, I don't think you can try a lot of different things in the middle order."

Despite a valiant 89-run partnership between Shahrukh Khan (57 off 29) and Sherfane Rutherford, Gujarat Titans eventually fell short by 33 runs.

"But I feel the middle order has done pretty well because even in the first 6-7 games, Sherfane stepped up and scored many runs in the middle order, changing games for us. Even in Mumbai, he changed the course of the game.

"So, I think even Shahrukh got an opportunity today to showcase his talent. I feel the middle order is on course as well. I don't think there is any gap or issue in the middle order.

"I feel things went well for all three batters at the top, so they didn't get many opportunities to play in the first half of the tournament," he added.

The selection of the Test squad was initially scheduled earlier by the Ajit Agarkar-led committee but was postponed by two weeks following Rohit Sharma’s sudden retirement from the format, with Virat Kohli also announcing his decision to step away from Test cricket shortly after.

Mumbai’s rising star Ayush Mhatre, just 17, has been named captain of the India Under-19 squad for the upcoming tour of England. Joining him in the squad is Bihar’s 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose breakout IPL season has made him one of the most talked-about young talents in the country.

Both Mhatre and Suryavanshi have lit up the 2025 IPL with standout performances, fueling excitement about the next generation of Indian cricket.

Mhatre, signed mid-season by Chennai Super Kings under the watchful eye of MS Dhoni, has impressed with 206 runs in six outings at an average of 34.33. His knock of 94 off 48 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore showcased his maturity and power-hitting, highlighted by 28 boundaries and eight sixes.

Suryavanshi, a left-handed opener from Tajpur in Samastipur, has been equally electrifying for Rajasthan Royals. The 14-year-old has piled up 252 runs in seven matches at an average of 36.00, including a whirlwind century—101 off just 38 balls—against Gujarat Titans, making it one of the fastest tons in the tournament. He has also struck a fifty and cleared the ropes 24 times, while hitting 18 fours. His pedigree was evident even before the IPL, with a 58-ball hundred against Australia in a youth Test last year.

Former Australian cricketer and current Punjab Kings assistant coach Brad Haddin believes that Virat Kohli left his most lasting legacy in Test cricket — a format he feels will feel Kohli’s absence the most.

Reflecting on Kohli’s illustrious career, Haddin noted that the former India captain’s intensity, especially in pressure situations, set him apart on the five-day stage. Despite sharing a few fiery on-field moments with Kohli during his playing days, Haddin acknowledged the Indian stalwart’s unmatched passion and the impact he had on red-ball cricket.

Gagan Khoda has picked KL Rahul as his sipper with Karun Nair coming in as an extra batting option. KL (Rahul) is my captain and I would prefer Karun Nair as an extra batter," said Khoda.

Khoda's 16-member squad: 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal 2. KL Rahul (c) 3. Sai Sudharsan 4. Shubman Gill (vc) 5. Pant 6. Ravindra Jadeja 7. Nitish Reddy 8. Kuldeep Yadav 9. Jasprit Bumrah (captain) 10. Mohammed Siraj 11. Mohammed Shami 12. Prasidh Krishna 13. Dhruv Jurel (wk) 14. Shardul thakur 15. Arshdeep Singh 16. Karun Nair.

Former national selector Jatin Paranjpe: "There is no one more ideal than Jasprit Bumrah to lead the national team in traditional format. My vice-captain would be Rishabh Pant, who has had a good record in SENA countries. Pant and KL Rahul are the two batters with two Test hundreds on English soil on their previous tours," Paranjpe said.

"I feel in a five-Test series, it is better to carry an extra batsman and an extra all-rounder who can bat, hence Sarfaraz Khan and Shardul Thakur will be my picks."

His squad: 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal 2. KL Rahul 3. Shubman Gill 4. B Sai Sudharsan 5. Shreyas Iyer 6. Sarfaraz Khan 7. Rishabh Pant (wk) 7. Shardul Thakur 8. Ravindra Jadeja 9. Kuldeep Yadav 10. Jasprit Bumrah (captain) 11. Prasidh Krishna 12. Mohammed Shami 13. Mohammed Siraj 14. Nitish Reddy 15. Arshdeep Singh 16. Dhruv Jurel (second wk).

As per news agency PTI, the squad is expected to be announced on May 24. The report says the squad could be of 16 or 17 members. It is between Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah for the captaincy role.

Additionally, Sai Sudharsan is set to become the rookie in the squad and there could be space for left arm seamer Arshdeep Singh.

Former national selector Devang Gandhi stresses that Shami should be part of the squad, unless there's an injury. He picks Bumrah as skipper and Pant as his deputy.

"I think it is surprising that there is a debate whether Mohammed Shami would make it to the Indian team. Unless he is carrying an injury. And IPL is not an indicator of someone's Test match form. You need someone of Shami's calibre in England. Obviously if he is not performing then you look at other options," Gandhi said.

"For captaincy, it would be unfair if you don't consider Bumrah for leadership. As far as Bumrah deputy goes, this is the time to show faith in Rishabh Pant as he has the best Test average in the current set-up. I would carry six specialist pacers in UK knowing that I have enough back-up for a five-match series.

"My extra batter will be Shreyas Iyer. Iyer has played a few Tests and at this point is in prime form. His technique and temperament both have undergone sea change. In my opinion, Iyer's selection is a no-brainer and he should also be a part of playing eleven. We need to play six (including Rishabh Pant) specialist batters at the start of the series."

Devan Gandhi's India squad vs England: 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal 2. KL Rahul 3. Sai Sudharsan 4. Shubman Gill 5. Rishabh Pant (wk and VC) 6. Ravindra Jadeja 7. Nitish Reddy 8. Kuldeep Yadav 9 Jasprit Bumrah (captain) 10 Mohd Siraj 11 Mohd Shami 12. Prasidh Krishna 13. Harshit Rana 14. Arshdeep Singh 15. Dhruv Jurel (wk) 16. Shreyas Iyer.

Former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad picks his 16-member squad for England.

"My captain would be Jasprit Bumrah as he has already proven himself as a leader. As far my vice-captain is concerned, I would like Shubman Gill to gain some experience as Bumrah's deputy. In case you have a problem with Bumrah's fitness then my choice is KL Rahul," Prasad said.

"As far as my assessment goes, Nitish Reddy's bowling will be more effective in England than it was in Australia. If we are taking 16, then I would want a left-arm swing bowler and my choice is Arshdeep Singh. I would like KL Rahul to bat No. 4 and my reserve opener would be Abhimanyu Easwaran."

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal 2. KL Rahul 3. Sai Sudharsan 4. Shubman Gill (vc) 5. Rishabh Pant 6. Ravindra Jadeja 7. Nitish Reddy 8. Kuldeep Yadav 9. Jasprit Bumrah (captain) 10. Mohd Siraj 11. Mohd Shami 12. Prasidh Krishna 13. Dhruv Jurel (wk) 14. Washington Sundar 15. Arshdeep Singh 16. Abhimanyu Easwaran.

Rathour, who shared a good rapport with Rohit, Ashwin and Kohli, said the fans must respect the decision taken by them.

"All three of them were phenomenal cricketers who retired. So, I would have loved for them to carry on. But it's, again, a very, very personal decision. I'm close to all three of them.

"So, you know, I would have, as I said, I would have loved to see them play more. But, again, it's a very, very personal decision, I think. And if they've taken this decision, we should respect that," he said.

Former batting coach Vikram Rathour is expecting a tough England tour for a young Indian side which will be without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin.

"It's going to be a tough tour. It's not going to be an easy tour because the seniors have retired a lot. So, the young team is leaving. There could be a new captain. So, all these things will add a little bit of pressure," said Rathour.

"But also it's an opportunity to showcase your talent and your ability."

Stokes, who suffered a tear during the third Test against New Zealand in December, said he'd put in a lot of effort to get back to peak fitness.

"Very excited to get going. Last game was in December. Everything's gone really well. Worked very hard to get to where I am. There's a lot of excitement around me, getting back on the field."

Kohli's iconic stature and his competitiveness have made a lot of difference to the team's success over the years and Stokes said he personally would miss him on the field.

"What India would miss maybe is his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness, desire to win. He's made No.18 (jersey) his, hasn't he?

"So, we haven't seen No.18 on the back of any Indian shirt. It's going to be a shame not to be playing against him because we both playing against each other, we both have the same mindset on the field

"He's been incredible. No doubt there's been a lot of praise for him in India, there's definitely been praise for him from players here. He's done really well against England... he's a class player," added Stokes.

Stokes said he would remember Kohli for how hard he could hit the cover drive.

"(He's) just wow. He's probably someone I would remember about how hard he hit the ball through the covers. That cover drive would be the one."

"One thing about India is their battery of batsmen; it is just incredible. The time I've spent in the IPL, they've got batters coming out of there... can't say a word on this in this interview but you know what I mean," Stokes said in a video posted by England and Wales Cricket Board.

"You can never take any Indian team lightly even if the fact that they are without two of their great batsmen."

"We always look to get out the opposition at the start of the Test match and then look to see how we adapt throughout the game as it progresses. But I know they (India) have got two big retirements. They have been such an important part of the the Indian team and all the success they've had," he added.

"It's going to be a long tough summer. Five Test matches always is, always is against India as well and tomorrow (the one-off Test against Zimbabwe) is the start of the tone setting."

England seamer Jofra Archer has suffered yet another injury blow that could hamper plans for a Test return against India.

The 30-year-old hurt his right thumb while fielding for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

He could now be out of action for at least a month, with England announcing Wednesday he had been withdrawn from the upcoming ODIS against the West Indies.

The Junior Cricket Committee on Thursday announced a 16-member India U-19 squad for the upcoming tour of England, naming 17-year-old Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre as captain.

The tour schedule features a 50-over warm-up game, followed by a five-match Youth One-Day series and two multi-day red-ball fixtures against England U-19, offering India’s next-gen stars valuable overseas exposure.

Among the most notable inclusions is 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has been a revelation in the Indian Premier League 2025. Representing Rajasthan Royals, the precocious batting prodigy has amassed 252 runs in seven matches at a staggering strike rate of 206.56, making headlines for his fearless strokeplay and maturity beyond his years.

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has turned the spotlight on young pacer Anshul Kamboj, suggesting he could be a major asset for India during their upcoming Test series in England.

Speaking after CSK’s clash against Rajasthan Royals, Fleming praised Kamboj’s deceptive pace and relentless accuracy, noting how his knack for hitting challenging lengths could pose serious problems for batters, particularly in seam-friendly English conditions.

“He’s an ideal bowler for English conditions,” said Fleming, adding that the Haryana quick would be “an absolute handful” if given a red-ball opportunity.

Arshdeep Singh's fabulous performances in white-ball cricket have prompted calls for his inclusion in India's Test team as well. In IPL2025 so far, the left-arm pacer has topped the wicket-taking charts for Punjab Kings with 16 scalps in 12 matches at 21.93, playing a major role in the team making it to the IPL playoffs for the first time in 11 years.

Punjab Kings bowling coach and former Australia allrounder James Hopes, for one, feels Arshdeep could be a handful in English conditions if he's picked for India's five-Test series against the hosts next month. “He's perfectly suited for English conditions. He can swing the ball both ways, he can bowl reverse swing if required. He can bowl around the wicket as a left-armer seamer and still take it away from the right-hander,” Hopes told TOI during an exclusive interaction here on Wednesday.

James Rew (C), Farhan Ahmed, Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, Rocky Flintoff, Emilio Gay, Tom Haines, George Hill, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Ajeet Singh Dale, Chris Woakes.

The ECB described the India A series as a vital opportunity for players to stake their claims for future international roles.

“This series against a strong India A side is a huge opportunity for an exciting and highly talented group of players,” said Ed Barney, ECB Performance Director for Men’s Cricket. “It will provide a platform both individually and collectively to excel on the international stage as we continue to succession plan for England’s future needs.”

The two-match red-ball series is expected to challenge the Lions while giving selectors a clearer picture ahead of a packed English summer.

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed and his younger brother Farhan will feature together in an England representative squad for the first time.

Rehan, already capped in all formats for England, will play the Canterbury game before joining the national squad for the T20I series against West Indies.

Somerset’s promising wicketkeeper-batter James Rew has been named captain of the Lions for the first time.

Medium pacer Ajeet Singh Dale also finds a place in the squad. Essex batter Jordan Cox is expected to return for the second game after recovering from an abdominal injury that ruled him out of the Zimbabwe Test.

Andrew Flintoff’s 17-year-old son, Rocky, and seasoned pacer Chris Woakes were named in the England Lions squad for two four-day matches against India A, beginning May 30 in Canterbury and followed by the second game in Northampton from June 6.

The red-ball series serves as a crucial warm-up for India ahead of their five-Test tour of England, starting June 20. Rocky Flintoff impressed earlier this year with a century against Cricket Australia XI and has five first-class games under his belt.

Woakes, recovering from an ankle injury, was omitted from the Zimbabwe Test but returns here for valuable match fitness.

India tour of England schedule

• 13 June - India vs India A at Beckenham
• 20 June - India vs England at Leeds
• 2 July - India vs England at Birmingham
• 10 July - India vs England at Lord's
• 23 July - India vs England at Manchester
• 31 July - India vs England at The Oval

If you follow the hierarchy, Jasprit Bumrah should be the next Test captain as he was the skipper earlier in Rohit Sharma's absence and held the vice-captaincy role. He has expressed desire to lead in the past.

However, his injury history poses a significant hurdle. Bumrah faced fitness issues in the recent past and after his back injury in Australia, the team wants to manage his workload carefully.

Since he's a key leader of the pace attack, staying injury-free is a priority. This means he probably won’t play all five Tests in the England series, and the selectors are reportedly looking for a captain who can be available for every match.

Last week, BCCI announced the India A squad set to play two first-class matches before the England Tests. An intra-squad match will also take place. Abhimanyu Easwaran has been named captain, with Dhruv Jurel as his deputy.

India A squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey

With Rohit Sharma's retirement, the Test captaincy is now open. The Indian team management appears to be thinking long-term, likely to choose someone who can lead the team in the future. As TimesofIndia.com reported, Shubman Gill is the frontrunner.

However, to play the devil's advocate, Jasprit Bumrah makes a strong case, having previously captained the team. Rishabh Pant has also reportedly held informal discussions with the selection panel. KL Rahul is another option in the mix.

Hello and good morning! We're going to follow the latest updates on India's Test squad for the England tour. This selection matters more than any other squads in recent history. It is a monumental transition moment in Indian cricket history as we go past R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. All three have retired in the last six months and this is a demanding time for everyone involved - selectors, the board and the current crop. More on that as we continue along!