Subhayan Chakraburi
India’s men’s cricket team is on the brink of a new era as the selection committee, led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, prepares to announce the squad for the upcoming five-match Test series in England, starting June 20 in Leeds. This series marks the beginning of a fresh World Test Championship cycle, with the team navigating the retirements of legends like Virand Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin in recent times.
All eyes are on the 25-year-old Shubman Gill, who is tipped to take over the reins as the new Test captain. While Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain during India’s last tour of Australia, seems a natural choice, concerns over his long-term fitness and workload management might see Gill stepping into the leadership role. Rishabh Pant is expected to be named vice-captain, despite a modest IPL performance, given his crucial role in India’s Test transition.
The retirements of Kohli and Sharma have left a significant void in the batting lineup, but experienced campaigner KL Rahul is set to provide stability. Rahul, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, is likely to open the batting in the first Test. Sai Sudharsan is also expected to feature in the top order. The selectors face a tough decision on whether to include an additional specialist batter, with Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Shreyas Iyer in contention.
With Ashwin’s retirement, Ravindra Jadeja will lead the spin attack. The committee must decide whether to opt for two or three spinners in England’s seam-friendly conditions. If they lean towards two, Washington Sundar might edge out Kuldeep Yadav, despite the latter’s proven match-winning abilities across formats.
Rishabh Pant remains the first-choice wicketkeeper, with Dhruv Jurel likely to be retained as the backup. In the pace department, Jasprit Bumrah will spearhead the attack, supported by Mohammed Siraj as the second pacer. However, concerns linger over Bumrah’s ability to endure the demands of a five-match series and Mohammed Shami’s fitness. If the selectors opt for a five-pacer strategy, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and the yet-to-debut Arshdeep Singh are likely candidates, with Shami likely to miss out. Should they prefer a left-arm pacer, Arshdeep will compete with Khaleel Ahmed for a spot in the squad.
Agarkar is expected to address the media post-announcement, shedding light on the team’s roadmap during this rebuilding phase. The announcement on Saturday will set the tone for India’s Test cricket future.
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