ENG vs IND 2025: India's predicted squad for five-match Test series against England

India’s much-anticipated five-Test series in England, starting June 20, will begin their World Test Championship 2025-27. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announcing their retirements, the team is in a transitional phase, and the selectors are expected to name a relatively young squad during the last week of May.

Shubman Gill, the flamboyant top-order batter, has come out as the frontrunner to captain the side, despite limited leadership experience, having led India in just five T20Is in Zimbabwe in 2024. With Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of captaincy consideration and KL Rahul seen as a backup option, the selectors are banking on Gill, but official confirmation is awaited.

India's squad is set to witness a major change. B Sai Sudharsan is being considered to replace Rohit at the top, while other batters are contenders to fill Kohli’s No. 4 spot, according to multiple reports. Names like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Shardul Thakur are also expected to be part of the group that will travel to the UK. Today, CricTracker discusses the most likely squad that will play the five-match series against Ben Stokes' England.

Here’s India’s predicted squad for the England tour

Openers - Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, India would see a revamped top-order in the red-ball team. Gill, looked up as a potential successor, is likely to lead the team in the England tour. The right-hand batter has come out to be an important member of India’s batting unit and could slot in at No. 3. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal will open the innings, but this time with a new partner at the helm. He was India’s top scorer in Australia and has taken his form into IPL 2025. His first Test tour to England will be a big one, as it was for him Down Under.

With KL Rahul also in contention to open, India may look at domestic stalwart Abhimanyu Easwaran as a backup. Easwaran, who could captain India A, has long waited for this opportunity. The right-handed batter was named in the Australia tour, but couldn't get a game due to team balance.

Meanwhile, B Sai Sudharsan’s also in sublime IPL form makes him an exciting pick for the opening slot. The Tamil Nadu left-hander’s composure suits seaming conditions. Previously, Sudharshan played County Championship for Surrey and has some familiarity of playing in the English conditions. 

Middle-order: KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant

The middle order is expected to play a huge role in English conditions and without Kohli. KL Rahul is reportedly a top contender to take up the No.4 position. With 3257 runs in 58 Tests, Rahul has been India's crisis manager, especially in SENA countries. Though originally seen as an opener, his experience and past success in England make him an ideal fit for this position. In the last England tour in 2021, the right-handed batter scored 315 runs in eight innings. Notably, he might also be seen as the backup wicketkeeper.

Dynamic wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant will be the X-factor in this series. While IPL 2025 hasn’t been ideal for him, his Test numbers make him a regular starter. With two hundreds and two fifties in England, Pant’s contribution in the lower middle order makes him a valuable asset. He is also expected to serve as the vice-captain.

India's second triple-centurion, Karun Nair, could be back in the Test side after a gap of eight years. After an impressive domestic run (255 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 542 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and 863 runs in the Ranji Trophy) is likely to make a comeback. His unbeaten 303 against England in 2016 is still fresh in the mind, and his recent heroics make him a crucial addition.

All-rounders - Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur

The all-rounders will play an important role in this series. Ravindra Jadeja is expected to hold a strong position in the Test setup. His brilliance with both bat and ball, especially in overseas conditions, has made him a reliable player. Notably, he maintained the longest-ever run as the No. 1 all-rounder in Test cricket history for 1,151 days, scoring 527 runs and picking 48 wickets in 2024 alone.

Young sensation Nitish Kumar Reddy is also in contention after a brilliant Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He was India’s second-highest run-scorer, including a memorable century at the MCG. He has become a fan favourite and a serious candidate for a specialist all-rounder role in foreign conditions.

Washington Sundar could be the backup to Jadeja. With Ravichandran Ashwin retiring, Sundar will be an automatic choice. Shardul Thakur is also in line to be part of the roster, after enjoying a stellar domestic season with Mumbai. Having consistently performed in the domestic circuit for the past year, Thakur will be seen in Baggy Blue.

Bowlers - Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Jasprit Bumrah, who had a brilliant Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, will once again spearhead the bowling unit. While he might not be given the captaincy duties due to workload concerns, but will be expected to free the same spells as he did in Australia.

Mohammed Shami who is back to full fitness, is expected to complement Bumrah perfectly. Despite being slightly off-rhythm recently, English conditions could help him get back to his lethal best. Mohammed Siraj, dropped for the Champions Trophy, has bounced back strongly in IPL 2025 and is set to get back his spot as the third seamer.

Additionally, Prasidh Krishna, who impressed on debut and has strong red-ball abilities, is expected to be favoured over Harshit Rana for the tour. He has had a brilliant IPL 2025 campaign and is in contention to win the Purple Cap.