For the first time in over a decade, the Indian Test team will tour England without the iconic duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom retired from the longest format last month. Their departure signals the end of a celebrated era in Indian cricket and paves the way for a fresh leadership chapter, with Shubman Gill appointed as the country's 37th Test captain.
The team landed in London on Saturday to a noticeably subdued reception—far from the media frenzy and fanfare that typically followed Kohli’s overseas appearances, most recently during the 2023 Australia tour. Speaking to reporters, Gill acknowledged the weight of expectations but expressed confidence in the squad’s balance and preparation.
India has already begun intensive training sessions ahead of the five-match Test series, which kicks off on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. The series will also mark the beginning of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. The remaining Tests will be held at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
With the spotlight now on a younger generation, this tour is being viewed as a major test of Gill’s leadership and a potential turning point for Indian Test cricket. The squad combines youthful energy and experienced depth—Rishabh Pant returns as vice-captain and wicketkeeper, while senior players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja will be key to India’s bowling strategy.
Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav