Team India is set to begin their ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign with a challenging five-match away series against England, starting June 20, 2025. This marks a significant shift for Indian cricket as Shubman Gill takes over the red-ball captaincy, with Rishabh Pant serving as his deputy.
India’s selection for the tour signals a focus on future talent, as left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and batter Sai Sudharsan have received their maiden Test call-ups. Both players were standout performers in domestic cricket and IPL 2025, earning deserved places in the squad.
Meanwhile, the India A team is already engaged in their second unofficial Test against England Lions, helping build depth and exposure ahead of the senior team’s campaign.
Jasprit Bumrah Eyes Wasim Akram’s SENA Record
India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will enter the series with a historic individual milestone in sight. Currently, Bumrah has 145 Test wickets in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries from just 31 matches.
He is just one wicket away from equalling Wasim Akram’s record of 146 wickets—the most by any Asian bowler in these regions. With just five more wickets, Bumrah would become the first-ever Asian pacer to reach 150 Test wickets in SENA nations, an incredible testament to his consistency and skill in hostile overseas conditions.
Bumrah’s Fitness Under Watch
Despite his potential milestone, Bumrah’s participation across the full five-match series is not guaranteed. He sustained a back injury during the final Test of India’s tour to Australia earlier this year. Though he was India’s best performer in that series, the injury raised fresh concerns over his long-term fitness.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that Bumrah’s workload will be carefully managed, and he is likely to feature in only three of the five Tests in England to preserve his fitness for the remainder of the WTC cycle and future overseas tours.
As India steps into a new era with a fresh leadership group and promising new faces, the series against England could set the tone for the 2025–27 WTC cycle. All eyes will be on Shubman Gill’s tactical acumen, Rishabh Pant’s explosiveness, and Bumrah’s bowling legacy.
