In a squad expected to have major changes, what could India's pace bowling attack look like when they head to England next month?
The visitors will go into this series with a new captain, and a new No.4 for the first time in over three decades following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli over the past week. Those are big shoes to fill, but India have two or three batters knocking about in and around the squad, to take their spots.
The composition of India's seam-bowling attack also remains doubtful. A difficult tour of Australia in their most recent Test engagement has understandably made the combination less straightforward.
On that tour, India selected five quicks – Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana. Nitish Kumar Reddy was also part of the attack as a part-timer. Three more reserves were selected in Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini and Khaleel Ahmed, and India's A squad on that tour also contained Yash Dayal. Could there be some new faces this time around?
The certainties
Jasprit Bumrah
There is little to say on Jasprit Bumrah. Not only is he a certainty to make the squad, he is also a candidate for Test captaincy on this tour and could well be vice-captain if that does not happen. Especially after the year he had in 2024, Bumrah walks into any Test team, perhaps ever.
Mohammed Siraj
While his white-ball future remains unclear after the Champions Trophy snub, Siraj is likely one of India's top three pacers in Test cricket. His tour of Australia – 20 wickets at 31.1 – was handy but went under the radar amidst Bumrah's brilliance.
While he can be a bowler who fluctuates wildly based on form, he has been excellent in this year's IPL and India will want him to keep that momentum going. On India's last tour of England, he picked up 18 wickets at 33.
Prasidh Krishna
Krishna made it to the squad for Australia on the back of some solid Duleep Trophy performances, and backed those up with match figures of 4-86 and 6-87 for India A. As the joint-leading wicket-taker in the IPL before its resumption, his superb recent form probably pushes him into the category of a certainty in the squad.
The 50-50 picks
Mohammed Shami
On overall quality alone, Shami would normally be a certainty. But he missed out on the Australia tour through injury, and questions over his fitness have continued through the IPL, where he has not quite looked at his best. At 34 years old, age is not on his side either. There is every chance he makes the squad, but at this point his status remains unclear.
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Harshit Rana
In all likelihood, Rana will make the main squad. The only doubt here is whether he might selected as part of the India A squad to play England Lions first, to see how he adapts to the conditions. He had started in Australia, but was quickly pulled out of the firing line after losing his radar somewhat in the second Test.
Shardul Thakur
Thakur has not played a Test since December 2023. He was due to play for Essex this summer in a move that could have potentially boosted his chances of a Test call-up – before signing an IPL deal with LSG as an injury replacement.
Thirty-five wickets in the Ranji season just gone have put him back in with a chance, and Cricbuzzhave reported he is likely to be part of the main squad. The Times of India, however, report that Nitish Kumar Reddy is the only contender for the seam-bowling all-rounder's spot.
Akash Deep
Deep was unlucky to not finish with better returns than five wickets at 54 from the Australia tour. More than performances, fitness is the issue for him. He has recovered from a back injury which kept him out from January to April, but has not looked at his best in the four IPL games he has played this season so far.
Like Rana, he may be selected for the main team, but there is a chance he is asked to play for the A squad first.
Possible A squad contenders
Khaleel Ahmed
Given he was part of the reserves for the Australia tour, Khaleel could once again be picked for an overseas tour. He has had an excellent IPL, and picked up 16 wickets in four Ranji games this season. He should at least make the A squad, and a couple of solid outings could earn him a spot in the main team.
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Arshdeep Singh
Already India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is, there is no doubt over Arshdeep's pedigree at this level. As a left-armer with the ability to swing the ball, selection for an England tour is tempting. He is another bowler currently in good form at the IPL, and has county experience with Kent as well. One or both, of him and Khaleel, could make the main team.
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Mukesh Kumar
Mukesh Kumar took 11 wickets in two matches against Australia A last November, but remained only a reserve for the main team. He played the last of his three Tests so far against England at home in February 2024, but Cricbuzz report that he is seen as an option for this tour as well.
Yash Dayal
Dayal did not make India's squad for the Australia tour, instead travelling with the T20 team to South Africa in December. Reports claim that he may be seen as a better left-arm option than Khaleel – either way, the competition will be fierce. Dayal's own form at the IPL has been up-and-down.
India's likely pacers for the England tour
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana/Arshdeep Singh.
Potential reserves: Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh/Harshit Rana, Mukesh Kumar.
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