Recent reports suggest that Sarfraz Khan, who has been a regular in the longer formats for some time, is unlikely to feature in the England tour. Meanwhile, Karun Nair is likely to make a comeback to the squad.
With the England tour just two months away, the BCCI and selectors are closely evaluating candidates for the tour. Karun Nair is set to rejoin the Indian squad after an eight-year absence. His domestic performances in the recent season, coupled with his consistent numbers and his county stint with Northamptonshire in 2024, make him a strong candidate for the upcoming series.
Additionally, Sai Sudharsan is expected to receive his maiden call-up, as his IPL performances and domestic statistics are impressive; he is also seen as a potential future replacement for Virat Kohli in the number 4 position.
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With Karun Nair projected to be part of the squad, 27-year-old middle-order batter Sarfraz Khan is unlikely to play in the England tour. His recent performance, along with an off-field altercation with India’s head coach Gautham Gambhir, may have influenced this decision.
Despite his hard work in domestic competitions leading to his selection in the Indian team last year—where he played 6 Tests and scored one century—his performance has declined lately, and he hasn’t had much opportunity to prove himself, especially after being sidelined during India's 3-1 series defeat.
Furthermore, Mohammed Shami is set to return to the Test team and is expected to play alongside Jasprit Bumrah in all five Tests. Shardul Thakur, who has a strong overseas record, is also expected to be selected for the tour, joining Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana.
In the spin department, with R. Ashwin retiring, Ravindra Jadeja will likely have a new partner if conditions demand. Names like Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to be considered for selection.
As for the experienced players, Rohit Sharma, who was rumored to step down as captain for the England tour, may still lead the team, with Jasprit Bumrah as his deputy in longer formats. Virat Kohli is expected to continue playing at number 3, alongside Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Karun Nair in the middle order, all of whom are probable members of the squad.
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Predicted Indian squad for England Tour
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Karun Nair, Devdutt Padikkal/Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana
