The Indian cricket team is gearing up for a thrilling summer as they prepare to take on England in a high-stakes five-Test series starting June 20. After a disappointing 1-3 loss to Australia, which dashed their hopes of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final, the team is determined to start the new WTC cycle on a high note. Their ultimate goal? To end an 18-year drought of Test series victories on English soil.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is expected to announce the squad for the England tour in the second week of May. Despite speculation about his future in the longest format, Rohit Sharma is likely to continue as the Test captain.
Before the Test series kicks off, India A will face England Lions in two four-day matches. The first match is scheduled for May 30 at the Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence, followed by the second at the County Ground in Northampton on June 6. These games will provide fringe players with a chance to prove their mettle against the challenging Dukes ball. Some senior players are also expected to participate in the Northampton match as part of their preparation for the main series.
This series is a crucial test for several players’ futures in the Test squad. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in particular, will be under scrutiny following their underwhelming performances in Australia. While major changes to the main squad are unlikely, players like Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Washington Sundar, and Tanush Kotian, who toured Australia, may be left out of the five-Test series.
Players such as Sai Sudharsan, Shardul Thakur, Karun Nair, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mukesh Kumar could be valuable additions, depending on the conditions in the UK. With Ravichandran Ashwin retired, the return of a fit Kuldeep Yadav to the Test squad seems imminent. The pace attack will likely feature the familiar trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami. Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar are frontrunners to provide backup. Shardul Thakur, who has been impressive in the IPL, will compete for a spot in the playing XI.
Karun Nair presents an intriguing case. After a record-breaking domestic season with Vidarbha, the Karnataka-born batter is back in contention for the Indian squad. His experience in the County Championship with Northamptonshire adds to his credentials. With doubts about Sarfaraz Khan’s ability in overseas conditions, could Nair make a comeback in Indian cricket?
Sai Sudharsan is another name to watch. Despite an injury-plagued domestic season, the Tamil Nadu batter scored a century during India A’s tour of Australia. He is a strong candidate for the India A squad and could even feature in the senior team.
For India A, Anshul Kamboj, who took 34 wickets in the Ranji Trophy last season, is likely to earn his first call-up. Khaleel Ahmed will aim to impress with the red ball, while Bengal’s Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal could be a valuable pace-bowling all-rounder.
In addition to the senior men’s team, the India Under-19 team will tour England for a series of one-dayers and four-day matches. This tour will serve as preparation for the U-19 World Cup in 2026.
The Indian women’s team will also tour England for a series of ODIs and T20Is, while the Indian mixed disability team will participate in a T20I series this summer.
For the latest sports news and updates, visit India Betting.
