Subhayan Chakraborty
India’s men’s cricket selection committee, led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, is set to usher in a transformative phase for the Test team as they prepare to announce the squad and new captain for a challenging five-match series in England, starting June 20 in Leeds. This selection marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle, with the team navigating the retirements of the stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin within a short span.
The 25-year-old Shubman Gill has emerged as the frontrunner to take over the high-profile role of Test captain. While Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain during India’s last tour of Australia, would seem a natural choice, concerns over his long-term fitness and workload management may tilt the scales in Gill’s favor. The selectors are expected to name Rishabh Pant as vice-captain, despite his underwhelming IPL performance, recognising his critical role in India’s Test transition.
The retirements of Kohli and Sharma leave a significant void in the batting order, but experienced campaigner KL Rahul is poised to provide stability. Rahul, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, is likely to open the batting in the first Test. Sai Sudharsan is expected to be part of the top order. The selectors face a decision on whether to include an additional specialist batter, with Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Shreyas Iyer in contention.
With Ashwin’s retirement, Jadeja will spearhead India’s spin attack. The committee must decide whether to opt for two or three spinners in England’s seam-friendly conditions. If they lean toward two, Washington Sundar may edge out Kuldeep Yadav, despite the latter’s proven match-winning ability across formats.
Rishabh Pant remains the first-choice wicket-keeper batter, with Dhruv Jurel set to be retained as the reserve. In the pace department, Jasprit Bumrah will lead 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.