The stage is set for the high-voltage Test drama between India and England which is set to grip fans from June 20. The new-look Team India, under the fresh leadership of Shubman Gill, will be locked in a five-match Test series, but without their two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The senior duo announced their respective Test retirement right before the tour.
However, Shubman Gill's deputy Rishabh Pant feels the big people have definitely left and there will be gap as well but at the same time there will be opportunity for the side to build a new culture from here on.
"The idea is very simple, obviously it is a new start for us and definitely big people have left. There will be a gap, but at the same time, it is an opportunity for us to build a new culture from here or take it forward by just adding to it. Being in a great frame of mind, helping the new players to learn and improve themselves in overseas conditions is what we look forward to," India's vice captain Rishabh Pant said in the pre-match press conference on June 18.
Meanwhile, Pant also revealed who will bat at Virat Kohli's no. 4 position. Pant clearly stated that Gill will bat at no.4 while he will come to bat at no.5. However, the selection for the number three batsman remains under deliberation. The team has three potential candidates for this role: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, and Sai Sudharsan. Easwaran has been part of the Test squad before, notably traveling to Australia, but didn't get a chance to play. Karun Nair recently showcased his form with an impressive double century against England Lions earlier in June. Sai Sudharsan, while talented, possesses relatively less experience at this level. The team management is expected to make their final decision on who will bat at number three after assessing the pitch conditions closer to the match day.
“There is still discussion going on who will bat at No 3. Shubham will go in at No 4 and I will bat at 5,” Pant added
Meanwhile England have already announced their pace-heavy playing XI for the series opener at Leeds. On the other hand Harshit Rana has been added to India's Test squad for England tour.
England's Playing XI:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
India's squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana.