How can India look without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for England’s Test

A week ago, who would know that the Indian Premier League (IPL) after 2025, when India travels to England, he will not have captain Rohit Sharma? Earlier, Rohit showed a desire to “well” in England. But as things came out, Hitman hung his shoes and Boli Ediu in the red ball format. Now, a few days later, another massive bombing has been dropped, this time by Virat Kohli, who has told the BCCI not to play Test cricket!

This has definitely made the entire Indian cricket fraternity dumb. While BCCI has asked Kohli to reconsider his request, let’s just believe that India does not have Kohli for the next five -match Test series which also shuts down the New World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Out of the picture with Rohit Sharma, Kohli wants to retire, and Ravi Ashwin is no longer an international player, the Indian test team’s scenario is about to change soon. On that note, we look at a potential Indian squad for England tests of five matches without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Sai Sudharsan A should now be

The absence of Rohit and Kohli will leave a large -scale zero in the Indian top order. It is considered a backup opener, Sai Reformson may finally get a consistent run. Reformson has tickled every box this season. He scored an average of 76 runs in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, including 213 marathon innings against Delhi.

Attractively, reformson has also been in Blazing Touch in IPL 2025 – scored 509 runs in just 11 matches for Gujarat Titans (GT). With the expectation of the order to return to the top of Jaywal with KL Rahul, reformson can be slipped to number 3, a position he batted in matches during India.

Shubman Gill, who has averaged more than 37 in tests since 2023 at number 3, can shift to number 4 to fill Kohli -shaped zero. This leaves the number 5 position open, where both Shreyas Iyer and Karun Nair come into conversation.

Shres Iyer or Karun Nair?

Karun Nair has not conducted a test since 2017, but his recent number in red-ball cricket suggests that a return is overdue. In the Ranji Trophy 2024/25, Nair scored 863 runs in 9 innings at an average of 53.15, including three centuries and two half -centuries. A year ago, he scored 690 runs at 40.58. These are not a single number-this is a batsman who has regained continuity. Nair also topped the chart in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024 with 779 runs as he was in Beast mode.

Despite a lukewarm IPL 2025, Nair’s red ball record is serious. The selectors will also remember that their last big score in the Test -303* -England.

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer’s return may match completely with Kohli’s absence. Iyer last played a Test in February 2024, but forced him to come back into controversy with a strong domestic season. After a disappointing Dilip Trophy, where he took an average of just 25.66, Iyer scored things in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 480 runs in 5 matches at 68.50 with two centuries.

His first class record is impressive: 6,363 runs in 81 matches at 48.57, including 15 hundreds. If India is looking for a batsman in form, Iyer is one of the few who fits the bill.

Shardul Thakur is entitled to a place

India’s speed attack will probably be carried out around Jasprit Bumrah and Sambhavna Mohammed Shami, but the charge management will be important. BMrah took 32 wickets in 5 trials during BGT 2023/24, while Shami returns after a prolonged trimming injury. In his absence, India will need depth. And it can be provided by Mohammad Siraj and Prasad Krishna.

In Ranji 2024/25, Shardul Thakur scored 505 runs and took 35 wickets- a real all-round performance. His 505 runs are originally the most legendary. In fact, Thakur scored more runs than the choice of Ajinkya Rahane, Priyank Panchal and Delhi captain Ayush Badoni. In IPL 2025, he has been pasted with 12 wickets out of 9 matches, and in tests, he alone has 30 wickets and three fifties in England. He has previously performed well in the UK. An familiarity with English conditions and lower order batting makes him a better fit for the test squad.

Kohli, Team India Squad for England’s testing without Rohit

Shubman Gill, Yashsvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudarson, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Year, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurlel (WK), Sarfraz Khan, Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur, Ravindula Jadeja, Washing, Washing, Washing, Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Prasad Krishna/ Prasad Krishna/ Prasad Krishna/ Prasad Krishna/ Prasad Krishna/ Prasad Krishna/ Prasad.
Captain candidate: Gill, Bumrah, Pant

England vs India Test schedule