The new WTC cycle for India and England is set to begin on June 20 at Headingley. This series will also mark the beginning of a new era for the Indian team, now led by Shubman Gill after the Rohit and Kohli phase.
Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri has picked his preferred playing XI for the first Test against England. Notably, his XI features four seamers and just one spinner.
Also Read: IND vs ENG Pitch Report & Weather Updates at Headingley, Leeds: India tour of England, 1st Test
Top Order: Jaiswal, KL Rahul to Open, Sai Sudharsan at No. 3
Shastri wants a left-hand/right-hand combination to open the batting, suggesting Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. He believes Rahul's experience will be crucial against the new ball and can help the young Jaiswal settle in.
At number 3, Shastri backed a fresh face in Sai Sudharsan, who impressed him during IPL 2025. Now, he wants to see how Sudharsan performs in red-ball cricket and believes he has the potential to do well in this series.
“He (Rahul) opened last time when India toured England, got a hundred, (and) had a good tour. So I would hope for him to open the innings.”
“Three, I’ll go with the youngster, Sai Sudharsan. Whatever I’ve seen of him, he’s very impressive. This will be good exposure for him, this tour.”
Gill at 4 and Karun Nair at 5
At number 4, he slotted in Indian captain Shubman Gill, believing this is a crucial opportunity for him to grow. At number 5, he went with Karun Nair. Though Shastri noted Nair has been away from the national setup for a while, he was impressed by Karun’s recent performances. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant follows at number 6.
“In all probability, depending on what current form is, it’ll be Karun Nair. He bats at five, it’s a long time since he played for India. Six will be (Rishabh) Pant,” he said.
“And I met him (Karun) during an IPL game. I said, ‘Don’t just bang the door. Just kick it down and make your way in and walk into that side’. And I think he’s done just that. Just the number of runs that he’s got has made the selectors look in that direction and give him a place,” he added.
Jadeja the Lone Spinner, Shardul Gets the All-Rounder’s Slot
For the spin department, Shastri picked only Ravindra Jadeja purely for his experience and wicket-taking ability in English conditions. At number 7, he selected Shardul Thakur for his ability to bowl long spells, pointing out that Nitish Kumar Reddy may lack that stamina.
Shastri’s three pace-bowling options are Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and either Arshdeep Singh or Prasidh Krishna. If conditions are overcast, he prefers Arshdeep for his left-arm swing; otherwise, he would stick with Prasidh as the third seamer.
“I would go with three fast bowlers, (plus) Shardul Thakur. I know it’ll be a tough one between Shardul and Nitish Reddy, but you have to see who bowls how much. If Reddy is going to give you 12, 14 overs, then he might get the nod because of his batting,” said Shastri.
Ravi Shastri’s Preferred Playing 11
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh/Prasidh Krishna
Stay tuned for more updates on the India tour of England 2025.
