Shami-Sarfaraz out, Arshdeep-Sudarshan got a chance for the first time, Gautam Gambhir took these 5 big decisions

Sports News:  The Indian cricket team will visit England in June, where it will play a 5 -match Test series.The Indian cricket team will visit England in June, where it will play a 5 -match Test series. The BCCI has announced an 18 -member team for this series. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the team at the press conference. The series will be part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship Bicycle. After the retirement of veterans like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin, it is considered a new beginning for Team India. Keeping this in mind, head coach Gautam Gambhir has taken 5 major decisions for the tour of England. Let's know about them-

1. Test team commanded to Shubman, Rishabh's responsibility for vice -captain

There was a lot of discussion about the captaincy before the team's announcement. Gautam Gambhir, after several rounds of meetings with BCCI officials, decided that Shubman Gill would be given the command of the Indian Test team. According to media reports, Gambhir himself celebrated the selection committee for Gill's captaincy.

At the same time, Rishabh Pant has been appointed as the vice -captain of the team. Earlier, there were speculations that if Gill was not made captain, Jaspreet Bumrah or KL Rahul could be one of the vice -captains. But Gambhir has given a big message to wicketkeeper-batsman Pant by giving this responsibility. Significantly, Rishabh Pant was also involved in the race for captaincy. Given his experience and aggressive leadership style, it was serious in the selection committee, but finally Shubman Gill was assigned this responsibility under a long-term approach.

2. Arsheep Singh and Sai Sudarshan for the first time in Test team

Gautam Gambhir not only changed leadership, but has also given place to new talents in the team. India's fast bowling unit is currently suffering from injuries. Bumrah will not be fed in all five Tests due to workload management and Mohammed Shami is not fully fit. In such a situation, Gambhir has included Arshdeep Singh for the first time in the Test team. Arshdeep has already done effectively for India in ODIs and T20s and his swing can prove to be helpful in England conditions.

Similarly, Sai Sudarshan, who is in great form in domestic cricket and IPL, has also received his performance. This is Sudarshan's first Test team entry.

3. Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur return

Gambhir has rewarded the players who performed brilliantly in domestic cricket. Karun Nair's team has returned after 8 years. He scored 863 runs in 9 matches in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, including 4 centuries and 2 half-centuries. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored 779 runs in 9 matches and scored 5 centuries.

Shardul Thakur has also returned to the Test team after 2 years. He performed impressive with both bat and ball in the last season of Ranji Trophy, winning the trust of the selectors.

4. Shami out of team, fitness became reason

Team India's veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been dropped from the team by Gambhir. Shami is currently not fully fit and not in a position to throw long spells. Gambhir has given priority to such bowlers who can bowl continuously under the circumstances there.

5. Shocking to get Sarfaraz Khan out of the team

The most shocking decision in team selection was to exclude Sarfaraz Khan. Sarfaraz has not received much opportunities since the Test series against New Zealand. He also impressed in limited occasions, but despite this he has not been given a place in the team for the tour of England.