With Virat Kohli officially announcing his retirement from Test cricket-just days after Rohit Sharma’s exit-India faces an unprecedented transition ahead of the five-match Test series in England, starting June 20, 2025.
The simultaneous departure of two modern greats leaves a massive void in both experience and leadership, forcing selectors to reimagine the team’s core and future direction.
India’s Test Team Captain and Vice-Captain
- Captain: Shubman Gill is likely to be named India’s Test captain for the England series, marking the beginning of a new era. At 25, Gill is seen as the natural choice to lead, given his temperament and recent experience as a stand-in skipper in white-ball cricket.
- Vice-Captain: Rishabh Pant, returning to full fitness and known for his aggressive style, will might serve as vice-captain, offering both energy and experience in overseas conditions.
Likely Batting Line-up
With both Kohli and Rohit gone, the batting order will see significant changes:
- Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are the frontrunners. Jaiswal’s aggressive approach and Rahul’s experience in English conditions make them the likely pairing.
- No. 3: Sai Sudharsan, a consistent performer in domestic cricket, is a strong candidate for this pivotal position.
- No. 4: Shubman Gill, previously used at No. 3, is expected to anchor the middle order at Kohli’s former spot.
- Middle Order: Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant are expected to bolster the middle order, with Pant also donning the gloves.
All-Rounders and Lower Order
- Ravindra Jadeja remains indispensable for his dual skills, while Axar Patel offers a left-arm spin option and lower-order batting depth.
- Emerging all-rounders like Nitish Kumar Reddy may be considered for added flexibility.
Bowling Attack
- Pace: Jasprit Bumrah will lead the attack, supported by Mohammed Siraj and, fitness permitting, Mohammed Shami. Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep are likely backups.
- Spin: Alongside Jadeja and Axar, Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist spin could be crucial in English conditions.
India’s Probable Test Squad List
| Role | Player(s) |
| Captain | Shubman Gill |
| Vice-Captain/WK | Rishabh Pant |
| Openers | Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul |
| Top-order | Sai Sudharsan |
| Middle-order | Shreyas Iyer |
| All-rounders | Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| Wicketkeepers | Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel |
| Pacers | Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami (fitness), Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep |
| Spinners | Kuldeep Yadav |
| Reserves | Abhimanyu Easwaran (opener), Mukesh Kumar (pacer) |
The Road Ahead
The absence of Kohli and Rohit marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for Indian Test cricket.
The upcoming England tour will test the depth of India’s talent pool and the leadership of Shubman Gill. With a blend of youth and experience, the squad will look to forge a new identity and maintain India’s competitive edge in the World Test Championship cycle.
The official squad announcement is expected by mid-May, with preparations under new head coach Gautam Gambhir set to begin in early June.
