5 Big Names Ignored for India England Test Tour
The Indian squad for the highly anticipated five-match Test series against England has been announced, and while there are several fresh and exciting inclusions, some omissions have left fans and experts baffled. With the new leadership duo of Shubman Gill as captain and Rishabh Pant as vice-captain, India is clearly moving towards a new era in red-ball cricket. However, a few consistent and experienced performers have been left out despite strong recent showings in domestic and international formats. Here’s a look at five notable players who were shockingly excluded from the England tour.
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1. Shreyas Iyer – A Proven Performer Left in the Cold
One of the most surprising exclusions from the England Test squad is that of Shreyas Iyer. The middle-order batsman has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, especially in the longer format. Representing Mumbai in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, Iyer scored 480 runs in just 5 matches at an impressive average of 68.57, showcasing his form and reliability.
Iyer’s ability to anchor innings, rotate strike under pressure, and handle pace as well as spin should have made him a top contender for the England series. Given the seaming and swinging conditions in England, his technique against the moving ball would have been valuable. His exclusion has sparked discussions on whether team management is focusing too heavily on youth at the cost of experience.
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2. Sarfaraz Khan – The Ignored Talent of Red-Ball Cricket
Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion is nothing short of shocking, especially considering his stellar run in the domestic circuit and impressive Test debut. In his debut Test match against New Zealand last year, Sarfaraz announced himself with a brilliant 150-run knock, underlining his temperament and readiness for the international level.
He has also been a consistent performer for India A and was a part of the squad facing England Lions recently, further proving his potential. Many experts viewed him as the future of India’s middle-order in Tests. His compact technique and hunger for big runs are tailor-made for English conditions. Leaving him out raises questions about the selection parameters being applied.
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3. Axar Patel – A Reliable All-Rounder Overlooked
Another puzzling omission is that of Axar Patel, a dependable all-rounder who has played a vital role in India’s Test setup in recent years. Known for his accuracy with the ball and his ability to contribute vital lower-order runs, Axar has often been regarded as a natural successor to Ravindra Jadeja.
Despite his versatility and experience, the selectors opted not to include him in the 18-member squad. While England may not always suit spin-friendly tactics, Axar’s ability to hold one end up and maintain control on dry, turning fourth or fifth-day wickets could have been invaluable. His absence weakens India’s spinning options and depth in batting.
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4. Harshit Rana – The Rising Pace Star Ignored
Young pacer Harshit Rana was expected to be a part of the England tour after his promising debut in the Test series against Australia. Known for his aggressive fast bowling and ability to generate bounce and pace, Rana is a valuable long-format prospect.
His bowling style seems perfectly suited for English conditions where lateral movement and pace are crucial. Moreover, Rana had recently been groomed as a potential future leader of India’s pace attack. The fact that he has been overlooked despite limited pace options in the squad has raised eyebrows. It appears the selectors have opted for more experienced names, but the decision to exclude Rana may prove costly in the long run.
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5. Mukesh Kumar – Consistent Yet Ignored
Mukesh Kumar was recently seen as the third-choice fast bowler in India’s Test setup and had shown promise with his disciplined line and length. He also features in the India A team traveling to England, which makes his exclusion from the main squad even more surprising.
Mukesh is known for his ability to extract movement off the seam and bowl long spells with accuracy — a skill set tailor-made for English conditions. With India’s pace attack undergoing transition, this would have been an ideal time to keep grooming a bowler like Mukesh, who has already shown signs of being a reliable Test performer.
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Final Thoughts: A Bold New Era With Some Puzzling Decisions
The selection of the Indian Test squad for the England series signals a clear shift towards youth and long-term planning, with the likes of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant at the helm. However, the decision to leave out some of the most consistent and deserving players like Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, and Axar Patel is hard to justify.
While new opportunities for fresh faces are always welcome, it’s equally important to strike a balance between experience and youth — especially in a challenging tour like England where conditions are tough and experience matters. These five players, all of whom have shown promise and consistency, will be hoping for another chance in future tours.
For now, all eyes will be on the selected squad to see if the bold decisions made by selectors will translate into success on English soil.
