New Delhi: India is set to begin a pivotal five-match Test series against England on June 20, marking the start of their new World Test Championship cycle. This series will be critical for veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who face heightened scrutiny as they navigate the challenging English conditions.
In a strategic deviation from previous years, India has opted not to play warm-up matches against County teams. Instead, the team will prepare for the England series by facing off against India ‘A’ in a closed-door setting, without broadcasting the match. This approach emphasizes acclimatization through intra-squad competition rather than external games.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) will conclude just before the Test series, with playoffs scheduled for May 20, 21, and 23, and the final on May 25. Rohit Sharma’s participation in the England series could depend on his form during IPL 2025, as his recent performances in Test cricket have been lackluster. He managed only 91 runs against New Zealand in a 3-0 series win and a mere 31 runs in the series against Australia.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli struggled during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 190 runs in 10 innings. Despite these challenges, both Rohit and Virat will continue to be part of the BCCI’s A+ grade central contract list for 2025-26, emphasizing their enduring influence on Indian cricket. Shreyas Iyer is also poised to rejoin the contract list, according to reports.
The focus on veterans like Kohli and Sharma underscores the series’ importance, not just for their individual careers but for the overall trajectory of Indian Test cricket as it seeks to regain momentum in the World Test Championship.
