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A New Era Dawns: Shubman Gill Likely to Lead India in England as Kohli and Rohit Retire from Tests

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India’s red-ball cricket is set to enter a new era as two stalwarts of the game — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma — have officially called time on their Test careers, triggering a generational shift in the national side.

With the next assignment being a crucial five-match Test series against England, beginning June 20, the Indian team will undergo a major transformation in both leadership and lineup.

RO-KO Retirement: The End of an Era


With the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, it leaves huge voids in India's Test batting line-up. Sharma, who had been the captain of the team, announced his retirement last week. On Monday, the legendary Kohli announced his retirement as he closed the chapter on his great red-ball career lasting over a decade and cementing his place as one of the greatest modern greats.

Earlier in the year, Ravichandran Ashwin also retired from Test cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia as the legendary off-spinner stepped away from Test cricket. The significant retirements signify the end of a golden period in Indian Test cricket.


Shubman Gill Set To Take Over Leadership


As the Indian team enters transition, everyone will be watching Shubman Gill — one of cricket's elite young talents. Several reports indicate that the fast-bowling spear-head Jasprit Bumrah, one of the senior-most players, is not in the running to be the Test captain, paving the way for the 25-year-old Gill to lead the red-ball side. He can fill the role of the pillar for India's Test revival.

Gill has been strong in recent years and is of course an innate leader, with a calm head and methodical technique fitting for the longest format.


Top Order Muddle


The retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli represent a gaping hole, or void, in the Indian top order. Rohit was an obviously indispensable serviceable opener and Kohli is an obviously indispensable number four. Both Sharma and Kohli represented significant components of India's batting firepower. The likely substitute replacements appear as youthful substitutes with adaptable batting orders.

Sai Sudharsan, the elegant left-handed batsman of the Gujarat Titans, is likely the front-runner to open the innings in concert with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Both batsmen just finished strong seasons domestically and a successful lot of matches in the IPL, and have displayed the technical and temperamental fortitude that Test Cricket presents.

In the middle order, KL Rahul is an available batsman, and most likely will come in at number four or five, while Karun Nair, the batsman who made the 303*, is also likely to be considered to fill Kohli's void.

Probable Squad for the India Tour of England 2025


Though the BCCI has not officially announced the squad for the England series, the probable lineup could look like this:

Batsmen:

  1. Shubman Gill (Probable Captain)
  2. Sai Sudharsan
  3. Yashasvi Jaiswal
  4. KL Rahul
  5. Karun Nair

Wicketkeepers:

  1. Rishabh Pant
  2. Dhruv Jurel

All-rounders:

  1. Nitish Kumar Reddy (fast-bowling)
  2. Shardul Thakur (fast-bowling)
  3. Ravindra Jadeja (spin-bowling)
  4. Axar Patel (spin-bowling)
  5. Washington Sundar (spin-bowling)

Fast Bowlers:

  1. Jasprit Bumrah
  2. Mohammed Siraj
  3. Mohammed Shami
  4. Harshit Rana
  5. Akash Deep

Spinner:

  1. Kuldeep Yadav


India’s Probable Playing XI: England vs India, 1st Test, Leeds, June 20 - 24, 2025


  1. Sai Sudharsan
  2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
  3. Shubman Gill (C)
  4. KL Rahul
  5. Rishabh Pant (wk)
  6. Nitish Kumar Reddy
  7. Ravindra Jadeja
  8. Shardul Thakur / Kuldeep Yadav
  9. Jasprit Bumrah
  10. Mohammed Siraj
  11. Mohammed Shami


Depending on English conditions, India may go with a four-pacer strategy, keeping Jadeja as the sole spinner. However, if the pitch offers any turn, Kuldeep Yadav could be drafted in as the second spinner.

The upcoming England tour marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle for India. With a young core, a new captain, and several fresh faces, the series could define India’s red-ball roadmap for the years to come. The absence of Kohli and Rohit may be felt, but it also presents a golden opportunity for emerging players to leave their mark and for Shubman Gill to etch his legacy as a leader.


Also Read: IPL 2025 Revised Schedule

Virat Kohli Announces Retirement from Test Cricket

#Shubman Gill Likely to Lead India in England as Kohli and Rohit Retire from Tests