India’s Test cricket team enters a new chapter as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England scheduled from June 20, 2025. This announcement comes in the wake of the recent retirements of two Indian cricket legends — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — from the longest format of the game, leaving a significant void in the team.

Shubman Gill Appointed Test Captain
The BCCI has entrusted Shubman Gill with the captaincy of the Indian Test team, signaling the start of a fresh leadership era. At 25 years and 258 days, Gill is set to become the 37th captain in India’s Test history. Alongside him, Rishabh Pant has been named the vice-captain, reflecting the team’s focus on youth and dynamic leadership. The selectors preferred Gill over regular vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, underscoring their faith in Gill’s calm demeanor and technical proficiency.

Squad Composition and Key Inclusions
The squad largely comprises players from the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour to Australia, with some new faces and veterans making a return. Sai Sudharsan, recently part of India A, earns a spot in the Test squad, offering batting depth and promising talent. Karun Nair, known for his triple century in Test cricket, is also back in the mix, potentially adding experience to the middle order.

The bowling attack remains spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, one of India’s premier pacers, accompanied by Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh. Interestingly, Mohammed Shami has reportedly missed out as the selectors felt he hasn’t built the necessary workload for long spells in Test matches recently.

Retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli: A New Era
Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket on May 7, 2025, followed by Virat Kohli on May 12. Both players had been pillars of the Indian Test side for over a decade, shaping India’s approach and successes in the longest format. Their retirements mark the end of an era and usher in a phase of rebuilding and grooming new leadership. Rohit, who had captained India in Tests and ODIs, and Kohli, India’s Test skipper for many years, leave behind big shoes to fill.

World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 Cycle Begins
This England tour will kick off India’s new cycle in the World Test Championship. With five Tests scheduled across iconic venues — Leeds, Birmingham, Lord’s, Manchester, and The Oval — India aims to begin strongly in the global Test cricket competition. The team’s selection and leadership changes reflect a strategic move to balance experience with fresh talent to compete at the highest level.

Expert Opinions and Predictions
Former selector Kiran More expressed his views ahead of the announcement, highlighting the challenges India faces. He stressed the need for a transitional period of about two years to build a strong Test side and questioned whether the team had adequately prepared for the leadership vacuum. More suggested KL Rahul as a potential captain to avoid putting excessive pressure on the relatively inexperienced Gill.

The squad announcement was eagerly awaited, with the BCCI officially declaring the team and leadership at a press conference. Fans and experts alike are keen to see how this young squad will perform in England, a traditionally challenging tour.

India’s England Test Series Schedule:

• 1st Test: June 20–24, Leeds

• 2nd Test: July 2–6, Birmingham

• 3rd Test: July 10–14, London (Lord's)

• 4th Test: July 23–27, Manchester

• 5th Test: July 31 – August 4, Kennington Oval (London)

This squad announcement marks a significant moment in Indian cricket, highlighting a bold new leadership with Shubman Gill at the helm, a blend of youth and experience, and the beginning of a new World Test Championship campaign. Fans across India now look forward to seeing this new team write its own chapters in the storied history of Indian Test cricket.

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