Old guard out, new 'leaders' in: Comparing India's 2021 and 2025 England Test squads

Time of India

11 hours ago

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill (Getty Image)
As India prepare for the five-match Test series in England starting June 20 in Leeds, the contrast between the 2025 and 2021 squads is striking and symbolic of a generational shift in Indian cricket.
Four years ago, India toured England with a squad brimming with battle-hardened veterans - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami. That team was built on decades of experience, with seven players having played over 50 Tests, including Ishant who had played 102 matches.
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Fast forward to 2025, and Team India returns with a new-look side, led by 25-year-old Shubman Gill, with just 32 Tests to his name.
With the retirements of Kohli, Rohit and Ashwin, this new squad is thin on experience. Only two players in the squad have played more than 50 Tests, and three are yet to debut in the format. The leadership group itself is in transition, with Gill and Rishabh Pant forming a youthful core.
Poll
Will the leadership transition from Kohli and Rahane to Gill and Pant affect Team India's performance?
Yes, it will be challenging
No, they will adapt
It depends on the matches
This tour, therefore, is about ushering in a new era and testing the readiness of India's next generation to step into the shoes of legends.
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The gulf in experience between the two squads couldn't be more glaring, making the 2025 series an opportunity to write a fresh chapter in Indian Test history.
A squad of promise vs proven pedigree
In 2021, the Indian squad had 11 players with 35-plus Tests experience, seven of whom had already played over 50 Tests. Virat Kohli was leading the side with 92 Tests and over 7,500 runs, while his deputy Ajinkya Rahane had 74 matches to his name. Eleven players were over the age of 30.
Together, the squad had amassed 83 Test centuries, and average experience of players was 38.25 matches.
Contrast that with 2025, where 10 of the 18 squad members are under 30, and three players are yet to debut in Tests. The collective Test experience per player stands at just 20.6, with the entire squad combining for only 29 Test hundreds. This team represents potential more than pedigree, a striking reversal from the proven match-winners of four years ago.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's Coach on England Prep, Opening Partner, & Playing Under Gill
Leadership transition: From giants to greenhorns
In 2021, Kohli and Rahane were two of India's most seasoned campaigners, boasting over 12,000 runs between them. Gill and Rishabh Pant in 2025 are still learning the ropes as leaders. Gill has played 32 Tests but has averaged just 14.66 in England. Pant, with 43 Tests under his belt, however, brings credibility with two hundreds in nine matches in England and could be the key to India's batting.
Top order shift: Uncertainty replaces stability
The 2021 top order of Rohit, KL Rahul and Pujara had a combined 161 Tests and 10,952 runs, forming a rock-solid top three.
In 2025, Jaiswal is set to open, but his partner remains undecided, possibly Rahul, or newcomers like Abhimanyu Easwaran or Sai Sudharsan. Gill, once an opener, had dropped to No. 3 recently and now may even bat at No. 4 to lend stability. There's experimentation in the top order where once there was certainty.
Middle order & lower Order: Looks credible despite retirements
With Kohli and Rahane gone, the 2025 middle order will rely on Gill, Pant, KL Rahul or Karun Nair, and Jadeja. While Pant brings X-factor, the others will need to stand up under pressure. It still looks credible as most of them are solid bats with a fair amount of experience and pedigree. Nitish Kumar Reddy at No. 8 adds batting depth, unlike the longer tail India carried in 2021 with Ishant, Shami,
Jasprit Bumrah
and Mohammed Siraj batting from 8 to 11.
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Bowling Attack: Jadeja-Bumrah still the spine, but depth missing
The 2021 bowling attack was one of India's finest overseas units - Ashwin (413 wickets), Ishant (306), Jadeja (221), Shami (184), Umesh (148), and Bumrah (83) offered pace, control, and experience. In 2025, Bumrah (205 wickets), Jadeja (323), and Siraj (100) remain key. However, beyond them, there's a sharp drop in experience. Kuldeep, Shardul, Arshdeep and rest bring variety but are largely untested in English conditions.
Result of 2021 Tour & outlook for 2025
India's 2021 campaign saw them lead 2-1 before the series was halted due to COVID. The final Test, played in 2022, ended in an England win, levelling the series 2-2. Despite a seasoned squad, India couldn't seal the series.
In 2025, the expectations are modest but the curiosity is high. Can this young Indian side defy the odds and perform in testing English conditions? The series marks a full-circle moment - ending one era, and potentially beginning another.