As India embarks on a new chapter in its Test cricket journey, former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes the team has enough depth and flair to challenge England, even without the familiar stalwarts. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both retiring from Test cricket barely a month before the high-profile five-match series begins on June 20 at Headingley, India’s Test side has taken on a very different shape.

Shubman Gill now leads the side, with Rishabh Pant named vice-captain. While the leadership shift brings freshness, the absence of experienced campaigners such as Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the unavailability of the injured Mohammed Shami leaves the bowling department looking a bit thin.
To add to the challenge, Jasprit Bumrah, the spearhead of India’s pace attack, is expected to play only three of the five Tests due to workload management. Which match he features in remains undecided. Michael Clarke, in a chat with Revsportz, acknowledged the risk but expressed optimism.
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“Yes, I do give India a real chance, but it’s a younger squad than I expected. Losing Rohit and Kohli is significant. But cricket moves on. New leaders bring new energy. The issue for me is how the bowling unit holds up, especially when Bumrah can’t feature in all five games,” Clarke said. “Not having Shami is a massive blow. A fully fit Shami alongside Bumrah could’ve shifted momentum in their favor, especially overseas.”
India’s squad for England features several fresh faces. Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are all in line for Test debuts, while Arshdeep Singh will bolster the fast-bowling contingent along with Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep. Kuldeep Yadav, the crafty left-arm wrist-spinner, is India’s frontline spin weapon—a player Clarke singles out as the “X-factor” for the visitors.

“It’s a very good attack on paper. The challenge is converting talent into consistent performances. England is one of the hardest places to play Test cricket. But this young group can benefit from that—they’re fearless because they haven’t yet learned what to fear,” Michael Clarke explained.
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He added, “I’m thrilled to see Kuldeep in the mix. He’s a genuine match-winner. If India is to win this series, Kuldeep could be the difference-maker. His variations, control, and temperament can break partnerships and turn games. He deserves to be their go-to spinner in this campaign.”
With high stakes, new leadership, and fresh blood in the ranks, India’s Test tour of England promises to be a defining period. Clarke’s verdict? The talent is there—it just needs time, belief, and execution.