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India tour of England (2025)
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Shastri backs India’s pace trio to shine in England
Speaking on The ICC Review, former head coach Ravi Shastri discussed India’s pace attack for the marquee Test series in England.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes India’s fit-again pace trio will cause problems for the England batters in the five-match series starting in June.
The series will mark the beginning of the new ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with India heading into it on the back of white-ball success with their Champions Trophy triumph.
However, their Test side will be eager to bounce back following a disappointing outing in their previous assignment in Australia – a 3-1 series loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy that eliminated their hopes of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s.
One of India’s struggles in that series was the availability of their pace attack – both Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah have battled injury setbacks, while Mohammed Siraj struggled in the Border-Gavaskar series and was dropped from their ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
Siraj has since made a strong comeback in the ongoing IPL, claiming 12 wickets in eight matches so far, signalling he’s back to his best, while both Bumrah and Shami have recovered from their injuries.
Shastri, speaking in The ICC Review, believes the trio will play a key role in England.
“I think with Siraj, Jasprit and Mohammed Shami, these three, if they are fully fit, they will give England heaps of problems,” Shastri said.
“It's a quality, top-class pace attack when you get these three fit. And what I like about Siraj, I'm glad he was hurt after being put out, not in the side for the Champions Trophy. That's what you want.
“For him to go back to the drawing board and come back the way he has, there's a spring in his stride, the pace is up there, and he means business game after game. And that is perfect from India's point of view with England coming up.”
Bumrah, too, appears to have regained his rhythm in the IPL after the injury that sidelined him during the final match of the Border-Gavaskar series, which subsequently ruled him out of the Champions Trophy.
Shastri did, however, emphasise the need for India to manage Bumrah’s workload during the tour of England.
“I would be very, very careful [with Bumrah],” Shastri added. “I would give him two Test matches at a time and then wait for the break.
“Ideally, make him play four. You'll be tempted to make him play five if he starts off in a great manner, but it's how his body pulls up.
“He should be given the first opportunity to say, ‘Yes, a little, [I am] feeling the niggle. A break would help.’ Give him that break.”
Shami made his return to international cricket for India only in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, following a long stint on the sidelines since the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final due to a knee injury.
His absence was particularly noticeable during the Border-Gavaskar series, where India struggled without a second senior pacer to share the workload with Bumrah.
In fact, Shami has not featured in red-ball cricket for India since the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia.
“You'll have to see how he's bowling in the nets, but I think there's enough experience there for him to start off,” Shastri said on Shami.
“The fact that he puts his hand up and says, ‘I'm available for that first Test match’ means he knows his fitness levels.
“He's a workhorse. I've known Shami for a long time. If he puts his mind to it, he'll get there. And the fact that there's Siraj and there's Jasprit doing as well as they are, that is just the motivation he needs to step up and get to that level.”
England and India will clash in the first of five Tests at Headingley in Leeds from 20 June, with subsequent Tests taking place in Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval.
ICC
Speaking on The ICC Review, former head coach Ravi Shastri discussed India’s pace attack for the marquee Test series in England.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes India’s fit-again pace trio will cause problems for the England batters in the five-match series starting in June.
The series will mark the beginning of the new ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with India heading into it on the back of white-ball success with their Champions Trophy triumph.
However, their Test side will be eager to bounce back following a disappointing outing in their previous assignment in Australia – a 3-1 series loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy that eliminated their hopes of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s.
One of India’s struggles in that series was the availability of their pace attack – both Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah have battled injury setbacks, while Mohammed Siraj struggled in the Border-Gavaskar series and was dropped from their ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
Siraj has since made a strong comeback in the ongoing IPL, claiming 12 wickets in eight matches so far, signalling he’s back to his best, while both Bumrah and Shami have recovered from their injuries.
Shastri, speaking in The ICC Review, believes the trio will play a key role in England.
“I think with Siraj, Jasprit and Mohammed Shami, these three, if they are fully fit, they will give England heaps of problems,” Shastri said.
“It's a quality, top-class pace attack when you get these three fit. And what I like about Siraj, I'm glad he was hurt after being put out, not in the side for the Champions Trophy. That's what you want.
“For him to go back to the drawing board and come back the way he has, there's a spring in his stride, the pace is up there, and he means business game after game. And that is perfect from India's point of view with England coming up.”
Bumrah, too, appears to have regained his rhythm in the IPL after the injury that sidelined him during the final match of the Border-Gavaskar series, which subsequently ruled him out of the Champions Trophy.
Shastri did, however, emphasise the need for India to manage Bumrah’s workload during the tour of England.
“I would be very, very careful [with Bumrah],” Shastri added. “I would give him two Test matches at a time and then wait for the break.
“Ideally, make him play four. You'll be tempted to make him play five if he starts off in a great manner, but it's how his body pulls up.
“He should be given the first opportunity to say, ‘Yes, a little, [I am] feeling the niggle. A break would help.’ Give him that break.”
Shami made his return to international cricket for India only in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, following a long stint on the sidelines since the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final due to a knee injury.
His absence was particularly noticeable during the Border-Gavaskar series, where India struggled without a second senior pacer to share the workload with Bumrah.
In fact, Shami has not featured in red-ball cricket for India since the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia.
“You'll have to see how he's bowling in the nets, but I think there's enough experience there for him to start off,” Shastri said on Shami.
“The fact that he puts his hand up and says, ‘I'm available for that first Test match’ means he knows his fitness levels.
“He's a workhorse. I've known Shami for a long time. If he puts his mind to it, he'll get there. And the fact that there's Siraj and there's Jasprit doing as well as they are, that is just the motivation he needs to step up and get to that level.”
England and India will clash in the first of five Tests at Headingley in Leeds from 20 June, with subsequent Tests taking place in Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval.
ICC
Bhaijaan
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Prasidh Krishna has really impressed me. Should be considered for the tour.
Justcrazy
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What will be England playing XI ?
I see they go for all pace attack.
I see they go for all pace attack.
Justcrazy
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He will be in the squad.
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Shastri urges India to shake things up with surprise picks for England Test series
Cricket legend Ravi Shastri has made the call for a left-field selection in India’s squad for the five-Test tour of England.
Former coach Ravi Shastri has called for the inclusion of Sai Sudharsan in India’s squad for the fast-approaching five-match Test series in England.
After the 3-1 series loss in Australia at the start of the year, which put paid to India’s hopes of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship Final, there were calls for the inclusion of fresh faces in the red-ball set up to reinvigorate the side ahead of the high-profile Test tour of England.
Speaking with host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review, Shastri threw his support behind Sudharsan following the 23-year-old’s standout form in the ongoing IPL 2025.
Already capped in white-ball cricket, Sudharsan is yet to debut in Tests, but Shastri sees him as a future all-format player for India.
“I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game,” Shastri told The ICC Review.
“He seems like a class player and my eyes would be on him certainly.”
Sudharsan brings valuable experience in English conditions, having turned out for Surrey in the County Championship in 2023 and 2024. In five matches he scored 281 runs, including a century and a fifty.
In 29 first-class matches overall, he has 1957 runs at an average of 39.93, including a maiden double-century in the format in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season for Tamil Nadu against Delhi in October 2024.
“Being a left-hander in England, knowing English conditions, and just his technique, the way he plays, I think he'll be top of the list for me from the outsiders wanting to get into this side,” added Shastri.
Shastri also wants to see a left-arm pacer in the squad for the seam-friendly conditions expected in England, and pointed out Arshdeep Singh as someone who could fit the bill and shouldn’t be restricted to white-ball cricket.
“I'll be looking for a left-armer,” he said. “I'll be keeping an eye on which left-armer is in good form, and try and squeeze him in there as the sixth (bowling) option.
“It could be anyone. It could even be a white-ball specialist. I don't like this thing when they say someone like Arshdeep Singh is a ‘white-ball specialist’.
“I'll keep a close eye on his red-ball record as well and the number of overs he bowls. If he can bowl 15-20 overs for me, he might very well be in the mix because he's got the mindset. He's a thinking bowler and I need a left-armer. It's just that.
“You need a left-armer, go and find him, whoever it is and whoever is the best of the lot – pick them. There's Khaleel Ahmed, who again, his rhythm is good, he's bowling well. So it's important to get that mix.”
Both Arshdeep and Khaleel have previously featured in India’s limited-overs squads, but neither has made their Test debut yet.
Arshdeep has shown promise in red-ball cricket, claiming 66 wickets in 21 first-class matches. His recent stint with Kent in the 2024 County Championship, where he picked up 13 wickets in five games, added valuable exposure to English conditions.
Khaleel, with 52 wickets in 19 first-class matches, has also been on the selectors' radar. He was part of the Australia tour, initially with India A and later as a travelling reserve for the Border-Gavaskar series, though a niggle cut his time short.
Among the other batting options, Shastri floated the idea of Shreyas Iyer returning to the Test setup, especially after his inclusion in India’s latest central contract list.
Iyer has impressed in sub-continental conditions, scoring 736 runs in 11 Tests across India and Bangladesh at an average of 43.29.
However, opportunities outside Asia have been limited, and he’s yet to make a mark, managing just 75 runs in three matches, with appearances in South Africa and a solitary outing in England.
“He (Shreyas Iyer) can (make a comeback), but it's again going to be a competition,” Shastri noted. “White-ball, certain. Test cricket, we’ve got to see who the other players are around.”
England will host India for a five-Test series – the first of the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 – starting with the first Test in Edgbaston, Birmingham on 20 June.
ICC
Cricket legend Ravi Shastri has made the call for a left-field selection in India’s squad for the five-Test tour of England.
Former coach Ravi Shastri has called for the inclusion of Sai Sudharsan in India’s squad for the fast-approaching five-match Test series in England.
After the 3-1 series loss in Australia at the start of the year, which put paid to India’s hopes of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship Final, there were calls for the inclusion of fresh faces in the red-ball set up to reinvigorate the side ahead of the high-profile Test tour of England.
Speaking with host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review, Shastri threw his support behind Sudharsan following the 23-year-old’s standout form in the ongoing IPL 2025.
Already capped in white-ball cricket, Sudharsan is yet to debut in Tests, but Shastri sees him as a future all-format player for India.
“I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game,” Shastri told The ICC Review.
“He seems like a class player and my eyes would be on him certainly.”
Sudharsan brings valuable experience in English conditions, having turned out for Surrey in the County Championship in 2023 and 2024. In five matches he scored 281 runs, including a century and a fifty.
In 29 first-class matches overall, he has 1957 runs at an average of 39.93, including a maiden double-century in the format in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season for Tamil Nadu against Delhi in October 2024.
“Being a left-hander in England, knowing English conditions, and just his technique, the way he plays, I think he'll be top of the list for me from the outsiders wanting to get into this side,” added Shastri.
Shastri also wants to see a left-arm pacer in the squad for the seam-friendly conditions expected in England, and pointed out Arshdeep Singh as someone who could fit the bill and shouldn’t be restricted to white-ball cricket.
“I'll be looking for a left-armer,” he said. “I'll be keeping an eye on which left-armer is in good form, and try and squeeze him in there as the sixth (bowling) option.
“It could be anyone. It could even be a white-ball specialist. I don't like this thing when they say someone like Arshdeep Singh is a ‘white-ball specialist’.
“I'll keep a close eye on his red-ball record as well and the number of overs he bowls. If he can bowl 15-20 overs for me, he might very well be in the mix because he's got the mindset. He's a thinking bowler and I need a left-armer. It's just that.
“You need a left-armer, go and find him, whoever it is and whoever is the best of the lot – pick them. There's Khaleel Ahmed, who again, his rhythm is good, he's bowling well. So it's important to get that mix.”
Both Arshdeep and Khaleel have previously featured in India’s limited-overs squads, but neither has made their Test debut yet.
Arshdeep has shown promise in red-ball cricket, claiming 66 wickets in 21 first-class matches. His recent stint with Kent in the 2024 County Championship, where he picked up 13 wickets in five games, added valuable exposure to English conditions.
Khaleel, with 52 wickets in 19 first-class matches, has also been on the selectors' radar. He was part of the Australia tour, initially with India A and later as a travelling reserve for the Border-Gavaskar series, though a niggle cut his time short.
Among the other batting options, Shastri floated the idea of Shreyas Iyer returning to the Test setup, especially after his inclusion in India’s latest central contract list.
Iyer has impressed in sub-continental conditions, scoring 736 runs in 11 Tests across India and Bangladesh at an average of 43.29.
However, opportunities outside Asia have been limited, and he’s yet to make a mark, managing just 75 runs in three matches, with appearances in South Africa and a solitary outing in England.
“He (Shreyas Iyer) can (make a comeback), but it's again going to be a competition,” Shastri noted. “White-ball, certain. Test cricket, we’ve got to see who the other players are around.”
England will host India for a five-Test series – the first of the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 – starting with the first Test in Edgbaston, Birmingham on 20 June.
ICC
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