IND vs ENG: India field different XI in every match of the series; three players remain unused
NEW DELHI: India's campaign in the ongoing five-Test Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England has been marked by constant flux in their playing XI, with captain Shubman Gill leading a side that featured a different combination in every match.
As the series reaches its climax at The Oval, India entered the fifth and final Test with four fresh changes, continuing the trend of no unchanged XI throughout the tour.
Live Score: India vs England 5th Test
Despite the rotation and tactical reshuffling, three players — Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Abhimanyu Easwaran — did not feature in any of the five Tests. While Kuldeep remained on the bench despite some chatter around spin options, Arshdeep and Easwaran are still waiting for their Test debuts.
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India made their intent clear from the start of the series, frequently adapting based on conditions, form, and workload. The rotation of
Jasprit Bumrah
, who was rested as part of pre-decided workload management, meant at least one change was guaranteed. But the changes went beyond that.
India vs England 5th Test Preview: Can Shubman Gill's India level the series at The Oval?
After losing the first Test in Leeds, India made three changes at Edgbaston, replacing Sai Sudharsan, Shardul Thakur, and Bumrah with Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep.
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That combination earned India a thumping 336-run win.
In the third Test at Lord's, India made just one swap — Bumrah returned for Prasidh Krishna. However, a narrow 22-run loss there triggered more changes. For the fourth Test in Manchester, Sudharsan, Shardul, and debutant Anshul Kamboj were brought in, while Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, and Akash Deep were left out.
India showed great grit to draw the fourth Test and stay alive in the series.
But for the final showdown at The Oval, they shuffled again — Dhruv Jurel, Karun Nair, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna came in for Pant, Shardul, Kamboj, and Bumrah.
Whether these constant changes help or hinder India's bid to level the series 2-2 remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — India's adaptability and bench strength have been thoroughly tested in this gruelling five-Test saga.
India's Playing XIs vs England in
2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy
:
1st Test:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
2nd Test:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
3rd Test:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
4th Test:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
5th Test:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
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While his return of two wickets may seem modest, his presence has been central to India's spirited fightback. Remarkably, Siraj has bowled more than 180 overs across nine innings in the series - a rare workload in an era where rest and rotation are closely managed. His determination to feature in all five Tests is a testament to his resilience and commitment to the team. In England's second innings at The Oval, Siraj has already bowled 26 overs - the most by any Indian bowler in the innings. Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna have sent down 20 and 22 overs respectively. At stumps on Day 4, England were 339 for 6, needing just 35 more runs to secure a 3–1 series win. Jamie Smith (2*) and Jamie Overton (0*) will resume the chase on Monday morning, while India require four wickets - potentially only three if Chris Woakes, nursing a shoulder injury, does not bat - to level the series 2-2. In a summer that has tested stamina and character, Siraj has emerged not only as a reliable strike bowler but also as a symbol of resolve and professionalism. At a time when 'workload management' has become a focal point of modern cricket, his ability to compete in five consecutive Tests underscores his elite fitness and mental toughness. For Morkel and the Indian camp, Siraj's contributions have gone far beyond statistics. "I'm thrilled he's getting the credit," Morkel said. "He plays for the badge, and that sort of commitment drives the rest of the team forward." Join our WhatsApp Channel
