India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and new Test captain Shubman Gill addressed the team ahead of their five-Test series against England in the UK, scheduled to get underway on June 20. In the huddle, Gambhir particularly praised Karun Nair’s comeback to the Test side after eight years and welcomed new additions to the team, marking the beginning of a new era following the retirement of senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin.The series, which begins in Leeds, marks India’s start in the ICC World Test Championship cycle for 2025-27. The matches will be played across five venues: Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s and The Oval in London, and Old Trafford in Manchester.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Karun Nair’s return to the Test squad comes after an exceptional domestic season. He scored 863 runs in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, averaging 53.93 with four centuries and two fifties in 16 innings. His performances included a crucial 135 in the final, leading his team to victory.
In the warm-up unofficial Tests against England Lions, Nair continued his impressive form, scoring 259 runs in three innings, including a double century.Nair dominated the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament with 779 runs in nine matches at an average of 389.50, including five centuries and a fifty. He also performed well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 competition, scoring 255 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 177.08.“Comebacks are never easy. Someone who has made a comeback after seven [eight] years had a phenomenal last year. Last year, no matter the runs you have got, and most importantly, that never-die attitude, never-giving-up attitude, that is something which has got you back into the team. That is something which is inspiring for this entire world. Welcome, Karun,” Gambhir said.Gambhir also welcomed Sai Sudharsan, who won the IPL Orange Cap and Emerging Player award after scoring 759 runs in 15 matches. Sudharsan has accumulated 1,957 runs in 29 first-class matches at an average of 39.93.“We will make sure you have a very successful red-ball career as well,” Gambhir told Sudharsan.
Indian cricket team in a huddle during a training session in London. (Image: BCCI Video Screenshot)
The head coach acknowledged pacer Arshdeep Singh’s white-ball achievements, including 99 T20I wickets and 14 ODI wickets. “I want to welcome Arsh, who has been phenomenal with the white ball cricket, I am sure, with the red ball in your hand, which is still there. I am sure you are going to make it count,” Gambhir said.Gambhir congratulate Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant to the leadership group. He also welcomed Adrian le Roux as India’s Strength and Conditioning coach. India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.