New Delhi: With each day passing, Team India is nearing the start of the challenging five-Test series against England, starting on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds. While the India A team was the first one to reach England as they took part in two unofficial Tests against England Lions, the senior men’s team only got to the country a week before, and the team has finally turned full squad now.
The two teams are practicing full tilt for the five-Test affair, and Team India, for that matter, is leaving no stone unturned in preparing for the first Test. The team has been in London and practices at the Lord’s Cricket Centre regularly, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is providing updates almost every day of the team’s training sessions and giving an insight into how the team is moving ahead.
In a video recently shared by the BCCI on social media, head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the team with new Test captain Shubman Gill by his side, in a huddle. The entire squad formed a circle as Gambhir started by welcoming the new members of the team, including players and support staff, while also highlighting Karun Nair’s comeback in the team.
Gambhir first welcomed Adrian Le Roux, a South African sports scientist who has joined Team India as their new strength and conditioning coach. Adrian has previously worked with Gambhir for seven years at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a period during which KKR won two IPL titles. He recently finished his duties at the Punjab Kings (PBKS), ending a six-year stint with them.
The former India opener also welcomes maiden Test call-ups Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh, wishing them good luck for a bright future in red-ball cricket. He also mentioned Karun Nair, who is making a comeback in the Indian Test team after eight years, highlighting his journey as an inspiration for the squad. The welcome was followed by an engaging pep talk as Gambhir boosted the team’s morale, emphasising upon the honour of playing for the nation.
Watch the huddle talk from Gambhir and Gill –
WTC 2025-27 cycle begins
Gill, who will be assuming the new role of India’s Test skipper, replacing the recently retired Rohit Sharma, will lead a strong 18-man group on English soil with Rishabh Pant as the vice-captain.
India will be touring England for the five-Test series as part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. The Men in Blue were quite dismal in the 2023-25 cycle and missed the chance to make a hat-trick of WTC finals. This five-match summer affair begins the next Test cycle for both England and India as they aim to take off on a bright note.
India will be without their star seniors Rohit and Virat Kohli as they bid farewell to Tests last month, and a young Gill is carrying a heavy baggage of responsibilities to lead the team in the tough English conditions.
India’s squad for England Tests: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
Gautam Gambhir welcomed the new members of Team India which recently turned full squad ahead of the opening Test against England. With Shubman Gill by his side, Gambhir boosted the team for the challenging five-Test series. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
