Official Squads

India (18-man Test squad):

Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice-captain & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.

Gill was named skipper and Pant his deputy in an 18-member squad announced on May 24, 2025. Notably, this squad sees a generational shift with Gill taking over leadership after the retirement of senior stars.

England (14-man Test squad):

Ben Stokes (Captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (WK), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.

This squad was named for the 1st Test and the series, featuring a mix of experience and youth. Surrey’s Jamie Overton returns to the Test side, while young players like leg-spinner Shoaib Bashir and all-rounder Jacob Bethell earn spots. Veteran pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad are absent – Broad retired in 2023, and Anderson had announced his retirement in mid-2024.

Both boards are likely to adjust squads if injuries occur or if form demands. Any squad updates (such as injury replacements) will be noted by the teams as the series progresses.

Series Context and Key Storylines

World Test Championship Significance

All five Tests in this series contribute to the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points race. This marks India’s maiden campaign in the new WTC cycle, making a strong start imperative in their quest for a spot in the final. England, playing at home, will be equally determined to maximize their points tally.

Leadership Transition in India

India’s Test team embarks on a new era with 25-year-old Shubman Gill assuming captaincy for the first time in a bilateral Test series. His appointment follows the recent retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, signaling a generational shift in leadership. Known for his consistency and technical proficiency, Gill is widely regarded as a long-term captaincy prospect. Supporting him is vice-captain Rishabh Pant, returning to full fitness after an extended injury layoff. Their leadership under challenging English conditions will be closely scrutinized.

India’s Squad Composition

The selection committee has opted for a balanced squad featuring seasoned names and emerging talent. Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and pacer Mohammed Siraj remain key figures, while Karun Nair returns to the Test fold. Promising youngsters such as Sai Sudharsan strengthen the batting lineup, offering depth and future potential. Jasprit Bumrah, having recovered from a back injury, bolsters India’s pace attack, adding firepower to their bowling unit. The inclusion of two wicketkeepers—Pant and uncapped Dhruv Jurel—ensures versatility behind the stumps.

England’s Squad Adjustments

England’s 14-man squad under Ben Stokes reflects a transitional phase. With the legendary pace duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad no longer in contention—Broad having retired in 2023, and Anderson following suit in 2024—England’s pace attack is undergoing a significant overhaul. Jamie Overton returns to the Test setup after overcoming an injury, while experienced campaigners Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes provide depth. Youngsters Shoaib Bashir (leg-spinner) and Jacob Bethell (all-rounder) are in line for their maiden Test appearances, underlining England’s focus on future prospects. Gus Atkinson, initially considered, was ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The batting core remains robust, with Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, and Ben Duckett forming the backbone of the lineup.

Recent Form & Rivalry Dynamics

The India-England Test rivalry has intensified over the years. Their last bilateral contest in England, a closely fought series, ended in a 2–2 draw (with the final Test played in 2022 due to postponement). As a result, the prestigious Pataudi Trophy remains shared. England, under the aggressive leadership of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, have embraced the "Bazball" approach, revolutionizing their style of play. India, meanwhile, will be adapting to a leadership transition and fresh personnel. How India’s batting lineup copes with the swinging Dukes ball, and how England’s restructured bowling attack fares without their retired greats, will be decisive factors in shaping the outcome of this highly anticipated series.

Broadcast & Ticketing Information

Broadcast & Streaming

Cricket fans worldwide can follow the live action from England. In the UK, Sky Sports holds exclusive broadcasting rights for all five Tests, with highlights available on BBC. In India, television coverage will be provided by the Sony Sports Network, while JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar hold the digital streaming rights through a sublicensing agreement with Sony. The first Test starts daily at 3:30 PM IST, making it a prime-time evening event for Indian viewers.

Across other regions, the series will be available through ICC's official broadcast partners. Notable providers include Willow TV (USA), SuperSport (South Africa), Sky Sport NZ (New Zealand), and PTV Sports (Pakistan), among others. Fans are advised to check local listings for exact channels and match timings.

Ticket Sales & Availability

The demand for tickets in England has been exceptionally high, with the ECB confirming early sell-outs for Days 1–3 at four of the five venues. Limited tickets remain for later match days—Headingley and Edgbaston still have availability for Day 4, while Old Trafford has extra seats for Days 2 and 3, and The Oval offers a few tickets for Day 5. Fans seeking last-minute availability or ticket returns should visit the official websites of the host venues or the ECB’s ticketing portal. With packed stadiums expected, the atmosphere promises to be electrifying throughout the series.

Player Availability & Injury Updates

Both teams will enter the series with near full-strength squads, though notable absences will shape the dynamics of the contests.

For India, this tour marks the first Test series without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom retired from the format earlier in 2025. Their absence places greater responsibility on emerging batsmen to step up in high-pressure conditions. The return of Rishabh Pant, fully recovered from his serious car accident in late 2022, is a major boost—he resumes his role as India's primary wicketkeeper-batsman. Additionally, Jasprit Bumrah, having regained full fitness after his prolonged back injury, is expected to lead India's pace attack.

England, meanwhile, will embark on their first Test series in over 15 years without Stuart Broad or James Anderson. Broad retired in 2023, while Anderson ended his illustrious career in mid-2024, signaling a transition in England’s bowling arsenal. The squad will lean on the experience of Chris Woakes alongside younger pacers. Despite suffering a finger injury during an ODI in late May, Jamie Overton was cleared for participation after successfully recovering. However, Gus Atkinson was ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained in England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe.

With both squads poised for a rigorous battle, rotation strategies—especially among bowlers—will likely play a key role in the outcome of the series. Reserve players, including India's backup pacer Harshit Rana, remain on standby for potential squad adjustments. Gautam Gambhir the Indian Team Coach also has returned to india due to health problem of his mother.

Milestones to Watch:

A few individual milestones could be reached during this tour. If selected in the playing XI, Joe Root is set to play his 150th Test during this series (he is approaching that landmark, underlining his longevity). Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja is on the cusp of 500 international wickets across formats, and a strong showing in England could see him surpass that mark.

Additionally, Ben Stokes will captain England in a home series against India for the first time; a series win would be a feather in his cap as Test skipper. From India’s perspective, Shubman Gill will be captaining in England for the first time – a successful outing would firmly establish him as India’s long-term Test captain.

Finally, the ICC World Test Championship points at stake mean any match win or draw is significant – expect both teams to push hard, as these two giants are often front-runners in the WTC race.

Sources:

Official announcements and information from BCCI, ECB, and ICC, as well as reputable sports news outlets, have been used to compile this update. Key details such as the schedule, venues, and timings are sourced from the ECB’s fixture release and ICC news. Squad announcements were taken from BCCI and ECB communications. Context on the WTC and series significance is per ICC and media reports. Broadcast and ticketing information comes from official sources including the ECB and partnership announcements. All information is up to date as of the latest official releases in mid-2025, ensuring this blog reflects the most current and verified details of the India Tour of England 2025. Enjoy the cricket!