India is set to face England in a five-match Test series starting June 20 at Headingley, marking the beginning of a new era without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from Test cricket. Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah are leading contenders for captaincy. The probable XI includes Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sudharsan, Gill, Pant, Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. Sudharsan may debut at No. 3, while Pant retains the gloves. India’s pace-heavy attack is built to counter England’s Bazball style, signaling a strategic shift as the team begins its 2025-27 World Test Championship journey.
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With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring, India enters a crucial transition phase—opening up leadership opportunities for young guns like Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah.
While Shubman Gill is emerging as the frontrunner, Bumrah’s proven leadership in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy keeps the race wide open heading into the WTC 2025-27 opener.
The left-right opening combo looks set as Jaiswal, who smashed 712 runs vs England last year, pairs with the dependable KL Rahul, solidifying India’s top order overseas.
Tamil Nadu’s B Sai Sudharsan, fresh off a strong domestic season, is tipped to bat at No. 3—a bold but calculated move against the swinging Dukes ball.
Gill, who has already played 17 Tests at No. 3, is likely to slide into Kohli’s iconic No. 4 spot—a role that comes with pressure and prestige.
Rishabh Pant is set to retain his place at No. 5, with the management backing his match-winning potential and X-factor in English conditions.
Ravindra Jadeja remains India’s spin anchor, while Andhra’s Nitish Reddy brings pace and power—although Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur remain strong contenders.
Thakur’s stellar Ranji Trophy run with both bat and ball might just tip the balance in his favour as a seam-bowling all-rounder, especially in seamer-friendly English pitches.
Leading from the front, Bumrah’s express pace and leadership skills will be pivotal in neutralizing England’s Bazball strategy across swing-heavy venues.
Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, with their reverse swing and aggressive lengths, complete India’s lethal three-pronged pace attack overseas.
Based on recent form and bounce-generating ability, Prasidh Krishna is expected to get the nod over Akash Deep in the starting lineup for the Headingley Test.
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