India Gears Up for England Test Series With New Leaders, Fresh Faces, and a Message From Gambhir

India's upcoming five-Test series against England, starting June 20, should be a showcase of top-tier cricket between two competitive teams. But instead of just the excitement over the matches, much of the spotlight leading into the series has been on who won’t be there—Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, all of whom have retired from Test cricket.

While their absence is significant and their legacies will always be remembered, the focus now shifts to the future. Indian cricket, as head coach Gautam Gambhir made clear, must look ahead.

With the series opener just over a week away at Leeds, Gambhir addressed the team in a powerful speech captured in a video released by the BCCI. He didn’t dwell on who was missing, but instead rallied the squad around the opportunity that lies ahead.

“All I want to say is there are only two ways of looking at this tour,” Gambhir told the team. “One is, we are without our three most experienced players. Or, we’ve got this phenomenal opportunity to do something special for the country. When I look around this group, I see the hunger, the passion, and the commitment to do it.”

He urged players to make sacrifices, step out of their comfort zones, and fight hard—not just every day, but every session, every hour, every ball.

India’s current squad may not have the same level of experience, but it’s far from inexperienced. KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja have all played Test cricket in England before. For many of them, this will be their third Test tour of the country, having also featured in 2018 and 2021. Karun Nair, making his Test comeback after seven years, was also part of the 2018 squad.

The series will also be a defining moment for the two newest faces in the squad. Gambhir gave a warm welcome to both debutants and those returning.

“First Test calls are always special,” he said. “Sai (Sudharsan), you’ve had a fabulous last three months. Wishing you a long and successful red-ball career. Arshdeep (Singh), you’ve been brilliant with the white ball; I’m sure you’ll shine with the red ball too.”

He also acknowledged the emotional return of Karun Nair: “Comebacks are never easy. But your never-give-up attitude is inspiring for the entire group.”

The coach concluded with a note of encouragement for the team’s new leaders. “Congratulations to Shubman (Gill). There’s no bigger honour than leading your country’s Test side. And well done, Rishabh (Pant), for stepping into the leadership group as well.”

With a young, motivated squad and a fresh leadership setup, India now heads into this high-stakes series not in the shadow of the past, but with its sights set firmly on the future.