India is ready to kick off their participation in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle when they face England in a five-match Test series in England. The opening match will start on June 20 (Friday) at Headingley, Leeds. As Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have stepped down, India will present a fresh-looking batting lineup led by Captain Shubman Gill. Ex-Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has forecasted what he anticipates the batting order might look like during this upcoming clash with England.
In a clip posted on his Instagram page, Dinesh Karthik forecasted that KL Rahul would partner with Yashasvi Jaiswal as an opener. He mentioned that Sai Sudharsan should bat third, succeeded by Shubman Gill in fourth position. The fifth spot was projected for Rishabh Pant. After being away from international cricket for eight years, Karun Nair is anticipated to return and slot into the sixth batting position according to Karthik’s prediction. Further down the order, Karthik suggested that Ravindra Jadeja could take up the seventh spot, whereas he tipped Shardul Thakur over Nitish Reddy to fill the eighth place in the lineup.
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"Jaiswal appears to be someone prepared for such a challenge. As the number three batsman, Sai Sudharsan has performed exceptionally well in one-day games, the IPL, and during his limited appearances for India," Karthik stated.
"Can Sudharsan also make an impact in red-ball cricket? With Shubman Gill set to step up as the new leader after the King, this is quite significant. However, he understands what needs to be done; he aims to earn respect within the team. Should he continue performing with the bat like he does in limited-over formats, success will come easily for him. In the eighth position, Shardul Thakur seems likely to play a key role. Although primarily known for his bowling skills, his batting could prove valuable too," he concluded.
India Squad Vs England
Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice Captain and Wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav