Rohit Sharma has retired, and Virat Kohli might follow suit: what would India's Test lineup look like in England without the experienced duo?
Rohit Sharma's Test retirement, although not entirely shocking, leaves India with a long-term Test opener and incumbent Test captain. Now, Kohli's reportedly also keen on stepping away, which could deprive India of considerable experience going into the England tour.
There's no paucity of options: India's deep talent pool keeps throwing up options, although the departure of two batting stalwarts won't be an easy void to fill. Especially for a trip to the UK, which can be a harsh testing ground for the inexperienced.
Top order
Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the first names on the team-sheet, despite playing less than 20 Tests. At 23, Jaiswal seems set for a long career, having already toured Australia, South Africa and the West Indies. There are still doubts over his prowess in seaming conditions – the England tour could challenge him on that front.
Partnering him, could be a new face in the Test arena. Sai Sudharsan hasn't put on the India whites yet, but hasn't been closer to a Test spot. He has played five County Championship matches across two seasons, scoring a century from No.6 for Surrey last year. In the last Ranji season, he also scored a double-century from Tamil Nadu. His current IPL form also helps his cause, with just one run short of taking back the Orange Cap.
Shubman Gill slots in at No.3. He has taken over that role since Cheteshwar Pujara was phased out. He averages 38 in that position, with three centuries. Away from home, that figure falls to 19 with a best of 36 in 12 innings. That's something he would want to change.
Middle order
Virat Kohli's potential retirement will free up No.4, a position he has held for the better part of 12 years. India could either move Gill down to four, and open with KL Rahul, have Sudharsan at three and Gill at four. Since the start of 2024, Rahul has played at No.3, No.4, No.6, as well as opened the batting. In England, he averages 34 with two hundreds, both scored as openers.
Rishabh Pant, as India's first-choice Test wicketkeeper, slots in, as does Ravindra Jadeja, as their premier all-rounder and most experienced Test player. To bolster their middle order, India has the option of choosing from Shreyas Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal. Iyer has been in stupendous form since losing his Test place, while Padikkal has stepped in twice, in Dharamsala and at Perth.
The other bits of their lower order can be filled by Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy, based on the combination India chooses to go with.
Backups
As a backup opener, India might take Abhimanyu Easwaran, a long-time India A player. Still uncapped, he was on standby during the England tour.
Dhruv Jurel has shown promise whenever he's been thrown into the mix, possessing a clean defensive technique and ample scoring shots. Likely to be the second wicketkeeper, he can play as a specialist batter too.
Rajat Patidar was dumped after a poor showing in the home Tests v England last year, but averages 43 in first-class cricket, and as quick operator of spin, might be a backup middle-order option.
Outside the box
Sarfaraz Khan has impressed in his short Test career, but could fall behind the pecking order when pitted against the rest in seaming conditions. There are also doubts over his prowess against the short ball: so far, he's exclusively played Tests in India.
Karun Nair has been in stupendous touch at the domestic level, and while his IPL comeback has been erratic, an India comeback is not out of the picture. An added advantage is his County Championship experience: last season, he averaged 49 with a century and three fifties.
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara? Highly unlikely, but never say never.
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