Despite India’s success in white-ball cricket, winning the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy in the past year, the team has struggled in Test cricket.
They suffered defeats at home against New Zealand and away against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, leading to criticism of captain Rohit Sharma. Now, a major update has emerged regarding his role as Test captain for the upcoming series against England after IPL 2025.
Rohit Sharma expected to retain Test captaincy
According to a ‘PTI’ report, 37-year-old Rohit Sharma will continue leading India in the five-match Test series against England, which begins on June 20 at Headingley.
India is aiming for its first Test series win in England since 2007, and despite his recent struggles, Rohit is expected to retain the captaincy.
“Rohit Sharma is expected to lead the India senior team in England despite his modest outings and two Test series defeats against New Zealand and Australia,” PTI report claimed.
India’s 45-day tour of England will kick off with the first Test at Headingley on June 20.
Rohit’s form in Test cricket raises concerns
Between September 2024 and January 2025, Rohit Sharma managed just 164 runs in 10 Tests. His performance in Australia was particularly poor, scoring only 31 runs at an average of 6.2 – the worst-ever average for a touring captain in the country. His return to the Ranji Trophy in January also failed to impress.
“There is enough time to announce the squad, mostly ahead of the knockouts or just after those matches. You will then get a clear picture as to which players are available by then,” a source close to the development told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
India is also monitoring the fitness of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from a back injury sustained during the Australia tour. As a result, Bumrah has yet to feature in Mumbai Indians’ initial matches of IPL 2025, and his availability for the England tour remains a key concern.
