India's new Test squad for the upcoming five-match series against England, starting on June 20, 2025, signals a significant transition. With the recent retirements of veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the selectors have ushered in a new era, appointing Shubman Gill, at just 25 years old, as the captain and Rishabh Pant as his deputy. This decision underscores a long-term vision, investing in youth and stability. While the squad boasts a blend of familiar faces and fresh talent, several choices stand out as potential hits and misses.

Hits:

• Shubman Gill as Captain: Gill's elevation to captaincy is a bold move, reflecting the team management's confidence in his leadership abilities. He is viewed as a long-term prospect to lead the team in all formats. This provides him with a platform to prove his mettle.
• Rishabh Pant as Vice-Captain: Pant's appointment as vice-captain, despite a somewhat underwhelming IPL season, shows the faith the selectors have in his abilities and leadership potential. He will be expected to play a more senior role in guiding the batting unit.
• Karun Nair's Comeback: The inclusion of Karun Nair, who last played a Test in 2017, is a calculated risk. With the absence of Kohli, the team lacks experience in the middle order. Nair's domestic form and prior Test experience could provide much-needed stability.
• Sai Sudharsan's Inclusion: Sai Sudharsan's maiden Test call-up is a reward for his consistent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. Sudharsan has also enjoyed stints in County cricket, which could help him in the English conditions.
• Variety in the Bowling Attack: The squad features a diverse bowling attack, with a mix of experienced campaigners like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj and promising talents like Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep. The inclusion of Arshdeep Singh also adds a left-arm seamer to the mix, providing variety and options for the captain.

Misses:

• Mohammed Shami's Exclusion: The absence of senior pacer Mohammed Shami due to fitness concerns is a significant blow. Shami's experience and skill would have been invaluable in English conditions.
• Sarfaraz Khan's Omission: Despite a strong First-Class record, Sarfaraz Khan has been overlooked. With the senior players now gone, many feel he deserved a chance in the middle order, particularly given his ability to play long innings under pressure.
• Bumrah's Workload Management: While Jasprit Bumrah remains the leader of the pace attack, concerns over his workload and injury history mean he is unlikely to play all five Tests. This places added responsibility on the other pacers in the squad.
• Lack of Experienced Middle-Order Batsmen: With Kohli's retirement and Shreyas Iyer's omission, the middle order lacks experienced players who have proven themselves in Test cricket, especially in overseas conditions. The onus will be on Gill, Pant, and Nair to shoulder the responsibility.

The new squad marks the beginning of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle. The team has a blend of youth and experience. India will be looking to find the right combination to be successful in this new era. How the new captain, Shubman Gill, manages his resources and leads the team in the challenging English conditions remains to be seen.