The Indian men’s cricket team is looking ahead to a five Test series that will begin at Headingley, Leeds on June 20, 2025. The series will mark India’s first series in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) and already presents a context of change for the team as both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had independently, published their retirements from Test cricket earlier in the series lead. The next era is quickly upon us for Indian red-ball cricket and it is already creating a significant level of intrigue.
There will be uncertainty in and around leadership and the batting lineup and composition of the squad, however, one thing that is not uncertain is that when travelling to England, India will head into the series with an interesting and exciting prospective blend of youth and experience.
Leadership Change: Bumrah or Gill?
One of the most fascinating talking points will be the captaincy. With Rohit Sharma no longer in the setup, selectors in India will have a very important decision to make whether to give the captaincy to Shubman Gill who is seen as the next young leader and a long-term solution, or revert back to weightier option Jasprit Bumrah who has also captained for India in Tests, along with having been the vice-captain in the 2024/5 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
While the initial discussions suggest Gill is projected to be an option for captaincy, it is possible Bumrah could be considered to lead a challenging series in England with Bumrah being an experienced bowler and possessing tactical knowledge. I suspect the selectors may see Bumrah as a stop gap and Gill as the long-term captaincy option.
A New Batting line-up Takes Shape
Opening Pair: KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal
At the top of the order, the emphasis will be on KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to negotiate the new ball. Rahul was a model of consistency on India’s tour of Australia, and his calm demeanor and technical ability make him a logical choice in English conditions. Jaiswal was Indias best batter in their last home series against England, scoring a total of 712 runs. Jaiswal will also face challenges as the swinging Dukes ball will test his technique coming down from T20 cricket, but if he brings confidence and aggression to the table, it could provide India with some fiery starts at the top of the order.
No. 3 and No. 4: B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill
Sai Sudharsan is expected to fulfil the No. 3 position with Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli both out of the picture. The young Tamil Nadu batter is currently in excellent form, and comes in the frame as a long-term replacement for Pujara. At No. 4, Shubman Gill takes Kohli’s vacant batting position. Although he has scored 17 Test runs at No. 3, he has the position covered with dependable knowledge and talent.
No. 5: Rishabh Pant
Back in the middle-order, and behind the stumps is Rishabh Pant, who will bat at No. 5 in the order. Pant has plenty of inconsistencies under his belt throughout his short career, but he has the match-winning ability to shift the teams momentum with the bat. His record in Australia and England highlights his potential as a valuable overseas performer. His glove work also appears more reliable than it was a couple of years ago.
All-Round Team Members: Jadeja and Reddy
The lower middle-order has two all-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The claim for Jadeja’s spot is unquestionable, as he brings with him left-arm spin, excellent control, and resilient batting ability. He is an automatic selection. Nitish Reddy, has impressed with bat and ball, and is a sign of India’s commitment to multi-dimensional cricketers. Reddy may get the nod as the second all-rounder over Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur. However, Thakur is still considered given his Ranji season form.
Pace Battery: Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and Prasidh Jasprit Bumrah: India’s speed ace and probable captain. Bumrah’s record in England is fantastic. He will have a big part to play in India winning the series. Mohammed Shami: Shami is back and is known for his amazing seam movement; together with Bumrah, these two will be a deadly duo. Mohammed Siraj: Siraj’s energy, aggression with the ball, pace and ability to reverse the ball makes him a fantastic third seamer in the pace attack for the India team. Prasidh Krishan: The hit-the-deck tall bowler has made a mark at the domestic level and in his limited opportunity in international cricket; he will most likely pip Akash Deep; his height, pace and bounce will be useful.
India’s Best XI for the England Test Series 2025
Yashasvi Jaiswal
KL Rahul
B Sai Sudharsan
Shubman Gill
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Jasprit Bumrah (C)
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Siraj
Prasidh Krishna
Bench and Tactical Depth
India’s bench for this series will most likely include:
Washington Sundar – Useful as a spin bowler and all-rounder option.
Shardul Thakur – An all-rounder, a batter option and someone who can break a batting partnership.
Akash Deep – An option as a pacer.
KS Bharat – Keeper option.
The options due to strength of this squad means India can make changes to XI based on the pitch conditions. For example, if there are spin-friendly pitches in Manchester and The Oval, India may opt for a spin-heavy line-up. If there pace friendliness pitches in Leeds and Birmingham, India may go for a pace attack.
An Uphill Battle
India has a few hurdles in front of them, even with a very strong team:
Adjusting to English Conditions – The Duke ball and English conditions will present a test of technicality and patience.
Middle-Order Unfamiliarity – There are new faces coming in for the stalwarts, and performing under pressure will require adjustments for India’s middle-order.
Injury Management – With five Test matches occurring in a short timeframe, their bowlers must remain fit enough to play every match.
Conclusion – Excellent Opportunity for New Generation
This upcoming England Test series shows a turning point for Indian cricket. The players do not get the opportunity to replace top players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli always, the chance is now to replace them. The current combination consists of experience but includes new faces, presenting as a well-balanced side that can win in English conditions.
As Jasprit Bumrah or Shubman Gill takeover the duty of the next generation, with players looks such as Jaiswal, Sudharsan and Reddy, we should expect a good series of high-quality cricket, with the potential introduction of two generations of test stalworths.
Where to next? Uncertain – Exciting. We will know more after Headingley on June 20.
