Thank you for joining us in the live coverage of the India Test squad announcement for the England tour of 2025. Shubman Gill is the new man to lead India in whites, while Rishabh Pant will be his deputy. A number of new faces, while some old warriors return too.

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports, as we bring you the live and latest updates from sports around the world. There is an IPL 2025 match later today! See you there.

Here are the key takeaways from the 18-man India squad for the England tour of 2025:

1) Long-term captaincy prioritised by BCCI

2) Plethora of options - multiple batters and bowlers elected

3) Domestic form rewarded - Easwaran, Karun, Shardul in

4) X-factor picks like Kuldeep and Arshdeep

India have given themselves a lot of options to choose from after selecting 18-man squad. Abhimanyu Easwaran, the India A captain, has been selected for the England tour, giving him the opportunity to make his Test debut this time around. 

Rishabh Pant has been one of India's best performers in Test cricket over the last 5 years, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar heaped praise on him, after he was named vice-captain of the country in Test cricket:

"Pant is the vice-captain, one of our best batters. A keeper can always see the game well. That is why he is Gill's deputy. We are looking at guys who can take the team forward."

Shubman Gill appears to be ear-marked as India's long-term captain, and not as a makeshift option. At the age of 25, Gill is here to stay. Having been appointed vice-captain in white ball formats earlier, he has now been given the big responsibility in Test cricket.

"You don't select a captain for one or two series, you have to plan for the longer term. We are hopeful that he will learn with time," said Agarkar on Gill.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentions that Karun Nair's inclusion is not only because of the excellent domestic season he had, but also because of the experience he brings in, particularly after the departure of Kohli.

"At the moment, Karun has scored heaps of runs in domestic, has played a bit of Test cricket, played a bit of county cricket. With Virat not there, clearly we're lacking a bit of experience. We felt his experience could help."

The England series could mark the debut for two rising stars of Indian cricket in the longest format. B Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh have been selected, and are primed to play at least some role during the five-Test series.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar on Gill vs Bumrah captaincy race: "I think we wanted Bumrah more as a player. It's always extra burden when you are managing 15-16 people. It takes a lot out of you. We would rather have him as a bowler."

Here is what chief selector Ajit Agarkar said on Bumrah's fitness status: "Don't think he'll be available for all five Tests. Whether it's four or three, we'll see based on how the series goes and his workload is. Even if he's fit for 3-4 Tests, he'll be an asset for us. Just happy he's part of the squad. He's more important to us a player."

Ajit Agarkar has said that the decision on who opens for Team India will be taken jointly by captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir in England -- "They might take a call on opener once they get there."

Another batter who has narrowly missed out on the final squad is Sarfaraz Khan. Despite preparing for the England tour (reportedly losing 10kg of weight), he has been snubbed by the selectors.

"We can't pick 50 players now, so naturally when you have to pick 18 players, some players will be missing out," Agarkar said.

Ajit Agarkar on the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin: "When guys like Rohit, Virat and Ashwin retire, they are always big holes to fill. Those three have been stalwarts. Always difficult. One way of looking at it is, opportunity for someone else. Had conversations with both of them. Virat reached out early April, seen him give 200 per cent on every ball he plays, even when he's not batting or on the field. He felt he'd given everything he had, if he can't keep up to the standards it was time for him. It's come from him. Have to respect that. They've earned that respect."

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar has explained the thought process behind making Shubman Gill the captain of Team India in Test cricket:

"Last year or so we have looked at Shubman (for leadership). We are hopeful he is the guy who is going (to take the team forward). It is a high pressure job but he is a terrific player. We wish him all the best."

Shreyas Iyer has been left out of the Test squad. Alongside Shami, he is the most notable omission. India have chosen a plethora of batters, including the likes of Karun Nair and Abhimanyu Easwaran. However, no spot for Shreyas.

Here is a breakdown of India's squad for the England tour, starting June 20:

Batters: Gill, Jaiswal, Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair, Easwaran

Wicketkeepers: Pant, Jurel

All-rounders: Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, Sundar, Shardul

Fast bowlers: Bumrah, Siraj, Prasidh, Akash Deep, Arshdeep

Spinners: Kuldeep

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar has cleared the air around pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has not been given any leadership role for the series -- "Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah won't be available for all five Tests against England from what physiotherapists have told us."

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar addresses the media regarding the timing of Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket. He has stated that Kohli reached out to him at the beginning of April, making it clear that he had made up his mind.

"Virat reached out in early April and said that he had made up his mind".

Karun Nair has done it! At the age of 33, after a stellar domestic season, Karun Nair has returned to the India setup. If he plays, it will be his first appearance for India in over 8 years, having last played a Test in March 2017.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar cites workload management as the main reason behind Mohammed Shami's exclusion from the India squad for the England tour -- "His workload is not what it needs to be. At the moment he is not fit."

Here's the entire 18-man India squad for the England tour: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudarshan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.

SHUBMAN GILL is the new India Test captain! Rishabh Pant has been named the vice-captain by the selectors. Start of a new era for Indian Test cricket, with 25-year-old Gill being made captain, as Ajit Agarkar announces. No leadership role for Bumrah.

We are past 1:30 PM IST, which was meant to be the scheduled start of the India squad announcement press conference by the BCCI. This could mean that it could begin anytime now, and the wait should not be too long.

According to reports, BCCI will select a 16-man squad for the Test series against England. Unlike ICC events, which permits 15, it is quite normal to select 16 or 17 players for bilateral tours. Meanwhile, the wait is getting shorter. Should be a matter of time before we get to know the squad.

18 Tests during the course of next two years.

1. India tour of England - 5 Tests - June-Aug 2025

2. West Indies tour of India - 2 Tests - October 2025

3. South Africa tour of India - 2 Tests - Nov-Dec 2025

4. India tour of Sri Lanka - 2 Tests - June 2026

5. India tour of New Zealand - 2 Tests - Oct-Nov 2026

6. Australia tour of India - 5 Tests - Jan-Feb 2027

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan's partnership has worked wonders for Gujarat Titans this season. However, they will have an even bigger role to play for India in England. The duo is slated to join the India 'A' squad ahead of the second match against England Lions at Northampton, ahead of the five-match Test series.

As per a report by PTI, Shubman Gill is the clear favourite to become India's new Test captain. The deciding factor in it being him over Bumrah are the facts that Gill has age on his side, and Bumrah's workload and fitness concerns.

Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Reddy are likely to make the squad, but there is a fair case to be made for the likes of Washington Sundar and Axar Patel. It could also be possible that all 4 make it to the final squad. 

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has also arrived. No news yet on Gautam Gambhir, so we wait to see whether the head coach will be present or not during the squad announcement. As per BCCI, the press conference to announce the squad will start at 1:30 PM IST -- 30 minutes from now!

BCCI Headquarters, Mumbai
Honorary Secretary Mr Devajit Saikia and the Men's Selection Committee is here to pick the team for the upcoming India's tour to England.#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/IzqAeqFyAA

— BCCI (@BCCI) May 24, 2025

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, a member of BCCI's medical staff travelled to Lucknow to assess Shami's fitness a few days ago. The report states that the BCCI isn't highly convinced about his ability to bowl long spells, and as a result, will likely leave him out.

There is no doubt surrounding Mohammed Shami's imperious ability. However, at the age of 34, Shami has been plagued by injuries over the last year and a half. He has even started bowling with the red ball in Sunrisers Hyderabad training, as confirmed by Pat Cummins yesterday.

India selected as many as 8 pacers for the India A squad for the England tour - Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Tushar Deshpande, Shardul Thakur and Nitish Reddy.

This is excluding the fact that Bumrah, Siraj, Shami and Prasidh are not included for India A, but will surely be in contention.

JUST IN: BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has entered the building! Visuals from the broadcaster have emerged, showing him entering the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai ahead of the meeting, after which the squad will be announced.

Former BCCI selector Sarandeep Singh thinks Nitish Reddy should be India's first choice No. 8. However, he has also batted for the inclusion of Shardul in the India squad for the England series. 

"I want to have Shardul Thakur in my team because he's a genuine wicket-taker. Nitish Reddy can bowl an eight-over spell for you, but you can't expect him for a breakthrough," he told Sportskeeda.

The England Test tour could be an opportunity for Shardul Thakur to make a comeback into the India setup. Not only could he be the fourth bowling option, his batting ability gives India the scope to play him as a possible No. 8.

Another one of India's headaches would be in the pace bowling department. Jasprit Bumrah is a certainty, Mohammed Siraj is likely to feature, but what about the rest? At least 5 pacers are expected to be taken in the squad, and the likes of Shami, Arshdeep, Prasidh, Harshit and Kamboj are all in the running to be selected.

With India set to elect a new Test captain, former BCCI selector Saba Karim has sent a strong message to the current selectors, and made his preference clear as to who he'd like to see be picked for the role.
"I would go with a young, talented leader -- Shubman Gill. Although he's yet to fully establish himself at the Test level, I'd like to see the selectors make a bold move."

B Sai Sudharsan averages around 40 in first-class cricket, but he has forced himself into selection conversation after a stunning IPL 2025, in which he has smashed over 600 runs in 13 matches. But it's not his powerhitting -- it's Sai Sudharsan's temperament, strokeplay and composure that has earned him plaudits.

Sai Sudharsan appears to be a favourite to enter India's playing XI.

Karun Nair won the Ranji Trophy with Vidarbha in 2025, after finishing runner-up in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25. He then went on to smash 89 off just 40 balls in his first IPL 2025 match for Delhi Capitals this year. As a result, Nair has fought himself back into the selectors' reckoning, and has made the India A squad for the England tour.

Karun last played for India in March 2017. 

While Gill is the favourite to become India's new Test match No. 4, 33-year-old Karun Nair has been backed by former cricketer Sanjay Bangar, following an excellent few months in domestic cricket.

"I'm thinking of Karun Nair at No.4. If all the talk of giving domestic cricket the priority and (using it as) benchmark, then he has done everything possible to get his Test spot back," said Bangar, speaking on ESPNcricinfo.

A lot of debate is also surrounding the successor of Virat Kohli in the No. 4 spot. There are a bunch of candidates. Shubman Gill has been touted by many experts, such as Akash Chopra, but the likes of Karun Nair, KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan are all in the mix.

Abhimanyu Easwaran has arguably been the most consistent batter in India's domestic circuit over the last few years. Since 2017/18, Easwaran averages 61 in domestic first-class cricket, a figure bettered only by Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan.

The likes of Sai Sudharsan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rajat Patidar all average significantly lower than Easwaran. It must be noted that Easwaran is also captaining the India A side for the England tour.

India have several doubts to answer ahead of the squad announcement, and one such is the opener. While Yashasvi Jaiswal is a certainty given his rich form in Test cricket, former BCCI selector Saba Karim has thrown the name of Abhimany Easwaran into the mix.
"I want Abhimanyu Easwaran to open the innings for India. He's been around for so many years, he's technically a very correct batter, he's a busy player, he can rotate the strike, and he can also play some good shots," Karim told Sportskeeda.

If Shubman Gill is the favourite to become Team India's captain, the race for vice-captaincy is wide open. Bumrah might be made vice-captain given his seniority and previous leadership experience, but one cannot count out Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul.

Pant has been one of India's best Test players over the last 5 years, while Rahul is an experienced campaigner with leadership experience.

Jasprit Bumrah has more than a valid shout to become India's new Test captain. After all, it was under his leadership that India won a Test in Australia last year. However, as per several reports, Bumrah's injury and workload concerns -- and the possible inability to play all matches and tours -- is the biggest obstacle in him becoming captain.

As per a report by PTI, Shubman Gill is the clear favourite to become India's new Test captain. At the age of 25, Gill is entering his prime years and is seen as a long-term captaincy option by the management. Remember, he has already been vice-captain in white ball formats.

Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul. These are the possible contenders for the new Test captaincy, following the retirement of Rohit Sharma. Gill and Bumrah are the two leading candidates, but who will it actually be? According to reports, the decision may already be made.

A warm welcome to everyone to NDTV Sports! Today is the big day, today is selection day. India is set to begin a new era in Test cricket today, with the announcement of their squad for the England tour in June, headlined by the appointment of a new Indian Test captain.

Stay tuned for all the live updates!