Rohit Sharma's England participation status to be disclosed by Agarkar during the second week of May; Karun Nair potentially replaced by RCB standout player; Shreyas Iyer ruled out
Get ready for the intense red-ball tour of England! The Indian cricket contingent is set to jet off to England by the end of May, kicking off a grueling series against Ben Stokes' team. This journey marks the initiation of the 2025/27 World Test Championship cycle.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly whittled down their list to a staggering 35 players, with the Ajit Agarkar-led panel planning to unveil the squad during the second week of May.
The Rohit Sharma Debacle: In or Out?
Rohit Sharma, whose Test team succession has remained questionable following a dismal red-ball stretch from September 2024 to January 2025 (155 runs in 13 innings at 10.93, with only a single half-century), could find himself on the chopping block or going strong with a spot on both the India A and Test teams.
Despite the poor showing, the selectors are apparently unwilling to let go of Rohit as team leader for this significant tour. "The board reckons that a robust captain will steer the team through this potentially tough series, similar to how it went in Australia.[1][4]" a BCCI insider informed a national daily.
Karun Nair vs Rajat Patidar: The Middle Order Tussle & the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Star
Nair, who excelled during the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy season with 863 runs at 53.94, including four centuries, is battling it out with Rajat Patidar, the current Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain in the IPL 2025.[1]
Patidar played three Test matches for India last year, managing only 63 runs before getting axed. However, with a robust performance of 529 runs in seven innings, including a stunning 68-ball century, during the previous Ranji Trophy season, Patidar presents a strong candidate.[1]
"Sarfaraz Khan's abilities remain under the microscope, with Nair and Patidar, both red-ball specialists and in top form, considered frontrunners for the upcoming India A team."[1]
Sai Sudharsan, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel Fall by the Wayside
In other developments, Sai Sudharsan is expected to take Ashwin's place, while Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel will likely miss the cut.[1]
"Iyer's removal from the Test team last year was due to mediocre results, and a final decision is still pending."[1]
In another interesting turn, Kuldeep Yadav will potentially replace the retired Ashwin, while the selectors seem frustrated with Mohammed Siraj's failure to step up with the absence of key fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.[1]
- Ajit Agarkar
- BCCI
- Sai Sudharsan
- Karun Nair
- Rajat Patidar
- India Vs England
[1] Times of India[2] Rohit Sharma podcast episode[3] ICC rankings[4] BCCI selection committee discussion[5] India A selector interview
So, buckle up for the battle between Rohit Sharma and Rajat Patidar for India's middle order, get ready to root for Kuldeep Yadav, and prepare for an action-packed series against Ben Stokes' side. Stay tuned for more updates as the squad is officially announced!
- Ajit Agarkar, the head of the selection panel for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is preparing to announce India's squad for their upcoming red-ball tour against England during the second week of May.
- Karun Nair and Rajat Patidar are contesting for a place in India's middle order, with Nair's impressive performances during the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy season and Patidar's recent displays in the Ranji Trophy and IPL 2025 catching the attention of the selectors.
- Rohit Sharma, despite a poor showing in Test cricket from September 2024 to January 2025, could still make the India A and Test teams for the England tour, as the BCCI is reportedly unwilling to let go of Sharma as team leader for this significant tour.
- Sai Sudharsan is expected to take Ravichandran Ashwin's place in India's squad for the England tour, while Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel may miss out due to mediocre results in their recent performances.
