Shubman Gill to Captain India in England Tests! Sudharsan and Nair on the Verge

INDIA’S TEST SQUAD FOR ENGLAND TOUR

Get ready for an exciting clash! Shubman Gill is set to captain the Indian Test team on their upcoming tour of England in June-July, as expected. The 25-year-old Punjab batter, currently Rohit Sharma’s vice-captain in ODIs, will lead the side in the five-Test series. The official announcement is expected on Saturday (May 24) when the national selection committee meets in Mumbai.

Familiar Faces with a Few New Additions

The squad will largely resemble the one that toured Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. However, with the recent retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, there will be a few new faces.

Sudharsan and Nair: Rising Stars in the Spotlight

Two domestic cricket stars, Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair, are likely to earn their spots in the Test squad. Nair, a prolific run-scorer in the domestic circuit, made a strong case for himself with 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy games (including four centuries) and 779 runs in eight Vijay Hazare Trophy innings (with five centuries).

Sudharsan, currently the leading run-scorer in the IPL with an impressive 638 runs, is also tipped for a place in the Test squad. His sound technique, calmness under pressure, and successful opening partnership with Shubman Gill in the IPL have earned him praise from even the likes of Jos Buttler.

Gill’s Batting Position: A Strategic Shift?

While Sudharsan and Nair are expected to be included, the batting order remains a bit fluid. KL Rahul has reportedly been informally told by head coach Gautam Gambhir that he will be needed to open the innings, indicating a possible shift in positions for Gill. This could see Rahul partnering with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, with Gill moving down to No. 4, potentially opening up the No. 3 spot for Sudharsan or Nair.

The Rest of the Squad

The bowling attack is likely to consist of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar providing all-rounder skills. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur are also potential contenders for a spot. The wicketkeeping duties are expected to be shared by Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel, with Kuldeep Yadav as the lone specialist spinner.

The final squad is expected to be announced soon, with a few names still subject to change.