Shubman Gill: A New Captain, Same Old Pressure Cooker
The BCCI has dropped its 18-member India Test squad for the England tour 2025, and no, this isn’t a reboot of 2021. This is the Shubman Gill Era—yes, you read that right. The 24-year-old pretty boy with a cover drive smoother than your favorite lo-fi track is now India’s Test captain. RIP to everyone who was still waiting for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to casually stroll into another game in Nottingham.
India’s batting hopes now ride on Gill’s shoulders and—if we’re being brutally honest—so does the national ego. Gill’s elevation wasn’t just about form; it was about symbolism, Gen-Z swag, and those 6 million Instagram followers who now call him “Captain Saab.”
Rishabh Pant: Back, Braver, and Just One Step Below
Alongside Gill is none other than Rishabh Pant, making a blockbuster return to the squad and as vice-captain, after what felt like an eternity of fitness reels and cryptic gym updates. The man who once reverse-swept James Anderson into existential dread is back in whites, and this time, he’s got a tag that says “Second in Command.”
Netizens are already debating whether he’ll scream louder from behind the stumps now that he has a quasi-authority status. We’ll keep you updated.
India Test Squad: Karun Nair’s Redemption Arc & Sai Sudharsan’s Debut Hopes
The squad has its usual stars—Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul—but also a few head-tilting moments.
- Karun Nair is back, possibly because selectors finally remembered his triple-century wasn’t a fever dream.
- Sai Sudharsan joins the Test arena, bringing with him both IPL flair and Chennai book club calm.
- Shardul Thakur is back too. Why? Because England is allergic to him.
And of course, Mohammed Shami is missing out due to injury, leaving a Shami-sized hole in India’s bowling attack and in our collective hearts. Here’s the complete 15-men India Test Squad:
FULL SQUAD: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk/vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
The Gambhir Blueprint: Silence, Strategy, and Side-Eyes
Gautam Gambhir – India’s current head coach – isn’t one for smiles or subtlety. Known for his poker face and permanently furrowed brow, Gambhir’s approach to this England tour is clear: Silence the hype, pack the swing bowlers, and keep the drama off Twitter.
His tenure starts with five Tests in England. That’s five chances for India to either conquer SENA demons or, well, relive the trauma of 2014.
India vs England Tour 2025: The Full Test Schedule
Here’s what the roadmap looks like:
- 1st Test – Lord’s
- 2nd Test – The Oval
- 3rd Test – Headingley
- 4th Test – Old Trafford
- 5th Test – Edgbaston
So yes, rain will probably play a bigger role than at least four of our all-rounders.
Form Watch: Who’s Hot, Who Needs a Hug
- Jasprit Bumrah is fit and firing, and English pitches are basically his happy place.
- KL Rahul has remembered how to bat again, which helps.
- Jadeja is ready to remind Joe Root who’s the real all-rounder.
- And Gill? He’s batting like a man who knows LinkedIn screenshots of his captaincy are already circulating in family WhatsApp groups.
Internet Reactions: X Users, Meme Pages, and Uncle Ji’s Rant
Reactions to the squad:
- “Karun Nair unlocked like a vintage Pokémon.”
- “Pant is back? Someone hide the opposition sledgers.”
- “Gill is captain? Bro’s gonna lead like it’s a fashion runway.”
Even Ajit Agarkar, the selection committee chief, trended briefly before everyone returned to debating Virat Kohli’s potential return in 2026.
Challenges and Plot Twists Ahead
Let’s be honest. Winning a Test series in England is about as easy as explaining DLS to your grandmother. But India has a squad with grit, talent, and now—youthful arrogance.
Will Shubman Gill the Captain outshine Gill the Influencer? Will Rishabh Pant’s vice-captaincy unlock new chaos levels? Will Gambhir frown his way to glory?
We’ll know soon. Until then, pack your whites, warm up your memes, and brace for cricket’s version of Shakespeare in swinging conditions and Stay Tuned with The Peak View Stories.
Disclaimer: Any resemblance to actual cricket strategies is probably just a coincidence. Viewer discretion is advised—especially for English fans.