Team India will embark on a four-month-long journey to England later this month. The tour will start with the much-anticipated ICC World Test Championship final from June 18 in Southampton followed by the five-match Test series against England starting from August 4.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to pick a jumbo squad of 30 members. While most of the squad will the same as the one picked against England in the home Test series, a few rookies like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Priyank Panchal, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna are in the fray.
The first of its kind – the World Test Championship will be played between India and New Zealand. The quarantine regulations would force the Indian team to reach England in early June. Earlier, the team was supposed to fly on June 03 but since the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 campaign is suspended, the players can travel even before.
Prithvi Shaw likely to return to India squad
Speaking of the squad, a couple of new entrants could sit on the flight to the UK. Prithvi Shaw, who impressed during the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the truncated IPL 2021 for Delhi Capitals is likely to force his way back to the national squad. Along with Shaw, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Priyank Panchal, and Devdutt Padikkal are also in the mix.
On the other hand, Hanuma Vihari, who missed the home series against England with an injury he sustained during the Australia series, is likely to return to the India squad. Among the all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja looks to be set for a return. However, Hardik Pandya is likely to stay out of the squad considering he hasn’t started bowling full-fledged yet. Washington Sundar will most likely retain his spot after all-round exploits.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel will be travelling as spinners while Rahul Chahar is also in the mix. The Mumbai Indians leg-spinner has been with the squad for quite some time now as a net bowler and can make it into the squad.
Jasprit Bumrah will return to the team after taking a leave from his cricketing duties for his marriage. Prasidh Krishna and Avesh Khan could be handed maiden call-ups while Bhuvneshwar Kumar also looks set for a return along with Mohammed Shami.
The squad is likely to be announced later today.
India’s likely 30-man squad for the tour of England (including World Test Championship):
Openers: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Priyank Panchal/Devdutt Padikkal
Middle Order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, KL Rahul
Wicket Keepers: Wriddhiman Saha, Rishabh Pant
All-rounders: Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja
Spinners: R Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Rahul Chahar
Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Net Bowlers: Chetan Sakariya, Ankit Rajpoot.
