India Test Squad for England Series: Who's in and Who's Out?

There’s hardly been any breathing space between successive India assignments with the team continuing to play non-stop cricket across formats. India returned home earlier this month from the South Africa tour and a few days’ rest later, the players were back on the field playing against Afghanistan in what is their final T20I series before the world cup later this year in June.

A day after the first T20I of the three-match series in Mohali, another India squad was named late Friday night, this time for the England Test series that starts later this month.

Also Read: Meet Dhruv Jurel, the Uncapped Indian Wicketkeeper

And that’s not it, there will be another announcement midway through the tour with the BCCI selectors revealing the squad for the first two Tests only.

A 16-man squad as been named for the Anthony de Mello Trophy which currently is held by India. Here’s a look at who’s in and who’s out from the Test squad.

Kuldeep, Axar Back

Considering the historical dominance of pacers on South African pitches, it was logical for India to take a pace-heavy attack to the African nation. They took two senior most spinners for the tour in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. With the Tests now in India and spinners to play a prominent role, left-arm duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel has been recalled.

Maiden Call-up for Jurel

In a surprising decision, the India selectors have picked uncapped Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel in the squad as well. Seemingly, he’s been picked as a back ‘keeper up for KL Rahul who kept the wickets on South African tour. Jurel averages 46.47 from 15 first-class matches having scored 790 runs including a hundred and five half-centuries.

Krishna Out With Injury, Thakur Dropped

Talk about hard luck. On the day the Test squad was announced, Prasidh Krishna, who made his Test debut during the South Africa tour, picked up a quadriceps injury during a Ranji Trophy game for Karnataka against Gujarat. Consequently, he wasn’t considered and missed the cut.

Allrounder Shardul Thakur has been punished for a poor South Africa tour after he leaked  runs and didn’t contribute with the bat either.

Gaikwad, Easwaran Miss Out

Ruturaj Gaikwad is continuing recovery from a finger injury he picked during the ODI series in South Africa that also ruled him out from the two-Test series which ended one-all. He’s going to miss the first two Tests against England as well. Abhimanyu Easwaran, who replaced him for the South Africa Tests, hasn’t been picked either.

Shami, Ishan Notable Absentees

Mohammed Shami was hopeful of getting fit for the England Tests but it’s likely that the team management doesn’t want to take any risks and is giving the star bowler more time to recover. He hasn’t played any competitive cricket since the 2023 ODI World Cup final and is nursing an ankle issue.

Avesh Khan had been roped in as Shami’s replacement in South Africa and the 27-year-old has kept his place.

Ishan Kishan continues to be absent from India squads after last featuring during the Australia T20I series at home in November last year. He took a break from the South Africa Tests and the ongoing Afghanistan T20Is and looks like it will continue at least till the conclusion of the second Test between India and England.