Will India Announce Its Test Squad for England Tour on May 24?

Synopsis
The anticipation is building as India's Test squad for the upcoming tour of England is rumored to be announced on May 24. With significant changes in leadership following retirements, fans are eager to see who will lead the team in this crucial series beginning June 20.
Key Takeaways
- India's Test squad announcement is expected on May 24.
- Shubman Gill is the leading candidate for Test captain.
- The series begins on June 20 at Headingley.
- Key player retirements have impacted squad selection.
- India 'A' players are also preparing for their matches.
New Delhi, May 22 (NationPress) Sources have indicated to IANS that India’s team for the forthcoming five-match Test series against England is expected to be revealed on May 24. The tour will kick off with the first match at Headingley on June 20, followed by encounters at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
There are indications that chief selector Ajit Agarkar may hold a press conference in Mumbai on the same day to announce the squad. “There has been some uncertainty regarding whether the announcement will happen on May 24 or 25. However, the latest information suggests that May 24 is the anticipated date for the men's Test squad release, along with the announcement of the new Test captain,” sources told IANS.
The selection of the Test squad was initially planned to take place earlier by the Agarkar-led committee, but it was postponed by two weeks due to Rohit Sharma stepping down from the format immediately, followed by Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket.
Currently, Shubman Gill is considered the leading candidate to become India’s next Test captain, while Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant are also contenders for the prestigious role. At just 25 years old, Gill has received acclaim for his proactive leadership with the Gujarat Titans (GT), successfully guiding them to the IPL 2025 playoffs.
Gill, along with his GT opening partner B Sai Sudharsan, is set to join the India ‘A’ squad prior to the second match against the England Lions in Northampton. Other Test players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, and Sarfaraz Khan, along with fellow India 'A' team members, are expected to depart for England on May 25, ahead of the first match scheduled for May 30.
According to IANS, members of the India 'A' squad, including Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Harshit Rana, and Harsh Dubey, are likely to fly to England from New Delhi on the morning of May 26, following their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday night. This match will mark the final game of the season for both SRH and KKR, who have already been eliminated from the tournament.