BCCI Gears Up for England Tour with 35-Player Pool, Rohit Set to Lead Amid Key Selection Calls

With the highly anticipated England tour on the horizon, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has started finalising its plans for the upcoming five-match Test series and the parallel India A tour. According to a report by the Times of India, a 35-member player pool has been shortlisted, with selections being divided between the main Test squad and the India A side.

Despite his recent struggles in red-ball cricket, Rohit Sharma’s name features prominently in the list, suggesting that the selectors still have faith in his leadership. A BCCI source told TOI, “Rohit is most likely to travel as the board feels that one needs a strong captain through the series, which is likely to be as tough as the Australia tour.” 

This move reflects the board’s intention to prioritise experienced leadership for what is expected to be a demanding overseas series.

The selection pool also sees interesting developments in the batting department. While Sarfaraz Khan has been overlooked due to a lack of confidence from the team management, names like Karun Nair and Rajat Patidar are being considered for middle-order roles. Meanwhile, IPL 2025 standout Sai Sudharsan is reportedly set to travel as the third opener behind Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The bowling lineup too has undergone scrutiny. With Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement leaving a void in the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav is expected to be part of the squad as the management seeks an attacking option. However, Axar Patel’s exclusion has raised eyebrows, especially given his utility as a dependable all-rounder. Ravindra Jadeja remains the leading spin-bowling all-rounder in the squad.

Concerns are also mounting around Mohammed Siraj’s recent dip in form. The selectors reportedly feel that Siraj hasn’t delivered as a lead pacer in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. To address this, the board plans to have some Test regulars play for India A ahead of the series to regain red-ball rhythm.

The final squad for both tours will be selected by the second week of May, with the Test series scheduled to begin on June 20 in Leeds.