India Test squad announcement HIGHLIGHTS, India vs England: Rishabh Pant named Gill's deputy

Mohd Shami is deemed unfit for the England tour and will not be travelling with the team to England. Other than Sarfaraz Khan has also been dropped from the Test side ahead of the tour.

2:05 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: BCCI press conference ends!

That wraps up the press conference, as Ajit Agarkar and Shiv Sunder Das conclude their briefing on the team selection. After addressing the media and answering questions for nearly thirty minutes, the BCCI Media Manager officially brought the session to a close. Both Agarkar and Das provided insight into the squad decisions and the thinking behind key selections, offering clarity on several points of speculation. With their job done, the two selectors exited the press conference room, marking the end of an important and highly anticipated announcement ahead of India’s Test series against England.

2:01 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Karun Nair gets Test call-up after 7 years!

A special call-up amongst the 18-member squad for the Indian Test team as Karun Nair has been called up for the England tour. An Indian call-up after 7 years for the batter who would be delighted with the outcome.

1:50 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Sarfaraz Khan dropped!

Despite of being part of the Indian test setup recently, Sarfaraz Khan has been dropped from the Indian Test squad ahead of the England tour. Sarfaraz had been working hard to get his fitness up in the background in order to be in proper shape for any assignment he is called up for. However, a disappointing turnout for the batter.

1:46 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Jasprit Bumrah not available for all 5 Tests!

Ajit Agarkar has confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will not feature in all five Tests of the upcoming series against England. The chairman of selectors explained that it remains uncertain whether Bumrah will play three or four matches, as that will depend on how things progress during the series. Agarkar emphasized that managing Bumrah’s workload is a top priority, especially given his injury history. He assured that the team’s physios and support staff will closely monitor his fitness throughout the tour to ensure he remains in the best possible condition for the key games in the series.

1:44 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Virat made intentions clear in April!

Ajit Agarkar also spoke about Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket, revealing that the former India captain had informed him of his intentions back in April. Kohli had personally reached out to express his desire to step away from the longest format of the game. Agarkar said he fully respected Kohli’s decision, acknowledging that it was a choice the legendary batter had made after careful thought. He added that while it’s a significant moment for Indian cricket, the selectors supported Kohli’s call to move on from Tests, given his immense contributions over the years in the format.

1:43 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Shami not fit for England tour!

Ajit Agarkar has confirmed that Mohammed Shami was ruled unfit by the BCCI medical team. He stated that the selection committee was keen on including Shami in the squad, but after receiving medical feedback regarding his fitness, they decided against selecting him for the upcoming series.

1:37 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Gill to lead the side!

Indian test squad for England tour: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (2nd wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav

1:25 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Selection meeting over!

The selection meeting is over with the announcement likely to come out anytime now. A lot of anticipation within former players, selectors and the fans in how will the selected lot look like to face the Three Lions in June.

1:20 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Squad to be revealed soon!

The press conference is expected to begin at 1:30 PM IST as we are less than 10 minutes away from the big reveal of who is going to become the next Indian Test captain ahead of the England Test tour.

1:15 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: All-rounder options for England tour!

Former BCCi chief selector Kiran More had his say on the all-rounder options for the England tour - “You already have all-rounders like Jadeja. I’d also include Washington Sundar—he’s played Test cricket and done well. He’s useful with the bat and can balance the side. With many left-handers around, pace-bowling all-rounders will also be important. Nitesh Reddy could be a good option in that space.”

1:05 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Saba Karim on India's opening pair!

Former BCCI selector Saba Karim gives hi stake on the Indian opening pair for him - “Before the selectors decide on the squad, they must keep two things in mind: don’t get carried away by recent performances and respect the pecking order — players who have consistently played for India A or have been part of the Test setup. Abhimanyu Easwaran fits that bill. He has a solid domestic record and has done well in SENA countries. I’d go with Easwaran and Jaiswal as the opening pair—one right-hander and one left-hander, with strong technique for English conditions.”

12:59 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: BCCI meeting begins!

The BCCI meeting has started with the BCCi chief selector Ajit Agarkar and other selectors finalising the squad for the big announcement that will be done in the next half an hour.

12:50 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Who will get to fill the big shoes of Virat Kohli?

With Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket, a massive void has opened up in India’s batting order—who will take on the iconic No. 4 role? The position, once held by legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli himself, is now up for grabs, and the cricketing world waits with bated breath to see who will be entrusted with this monumental responsibility.

Will the selectors back the promising Shubman Gill, who has shown maturity beyond his years? Or will they take a bold step and hand the spot to Sarfaraz Khan, whose domestic form has been impossible to ignore? Could a comeback be on the cards for Karun Nair, who has quietly piled on the runs in domestic cricket? Or might the ever-reliable KL Rahul be asked to bring his experience to the middle order?

As we edge closer to the official squad announcement, the anticipation is reaching fever pitch. With just an hour left before Ajit Agarkar steps into the press conference room, fans and experts alike are eagerly waiting for answers. The next chapter of Indian Test cricket is about to be written—and it all begins with today’s announcement.

12:40 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: How will India's pace battery look like?

Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead India’s pace attack in the upcoming Test series against England, but there are lingering concerns about his ability to endure the physical demands of a five-match series. His recent injury history has prompted the selectors to be cautious with his workload.

Mohammed Shami is also unlikely to feature, as his ongoing fitness issues and limited recovery time make his availability uncertain. In his absence, Mohammed Siraj is set to play a key role as the second frontline seamer.

If the selectors opt for five fast bowlers in the squad, the remaining spots could be contested by Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh—all of whom are yet to make their Test debuts. Among them, Arshdeep may face competition from Khaleel Ahmed for the left-arm seamer’s role, giving the team some variety in attack.

Interestingly, the Test squad announcement will come just a week ahead of the India A tour to England, which could provide additional backup options in case of last-minute changes or injuries.

12:30 PM

India Test squad announcement live updates: Former BCCI chief selector's pick for captaincy!

Former BCCi chief selector Kiran More wants KL Rahul to lead the side in England in the red ball series. “I would go with KL Rahul, he’s an experienced campaigner. I don’t want to put too much pressure on Shubman Gill. He hasn’t done enough in Test cricket yet. He hasn’t played much domestic cricket either, so there’s a lot of learning still to do in the longer format. Let him grow, maybe he can be vice-captain for a year or two. For now, KL Rahul is the right choice. He has the experience, temperament, and communication skills needed to lead.” Kiran said.