Sanjay Manjrekar has raised eyebrows over India’s recently announced Test squad for the five-match series against England, calling the selection “strange” while acknowledging that this is clearly a team in transition. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has signaled a shift in strategy, opting for a youthful, forward-looking squad by leaving out several seasoned campaigners.
The most headline-grabbing change was the appointment of Shubman Gill as Test captain, replacing the retired Rohit Sharma. Notably, this move comes despite the presence of more experienced names like KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah. Adding to the overhaul, Mohammed Shami was not considered, and with Virat Kohli’s retirement, 23-year-old Sai Sudharsan has been drafted in as part of the new-look middle order.
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Taking to X, Sanjay Manjrekar didn’t mince words: “Strange team selection overall. But India go to England with nothing to lose. It’s a team in transition, so we can only wish it the very best and, yes, be patient when it comes to returns on investment.” His post underlined both a cautious optimism and scepticism about the bold reshuffle.
Strange team selection overall. But India go to England with nothing to lose. It’s a team in transition so we can only wish it the very best & yes, be patient when it comes to returns on investment. 👍#indianteam
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 24, 2025
Interestingly, Sanjay Manjrekar had been vocal even before the announcement, advocating for Jasprit Bumrah as the ideal candidate to lead the side. “My three frontrunners for captaincy on the England tour are 1. Jasprit Bumrah, 2. Jasprit Bumrah, and 3. Jasprit Bumrah,” he said on Instagram. “If you look at Indian cricket across formats, and especially in the context of Test cricket, Bumrah stands out as the only truly great player right now.”
He further questioned the rationale behind selecting leaders based primarily on fitness: “Some of the other names being considered — the only logic given is that they’re likely to be fit. But what about form? Leadership should be based on performance too.”
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India’s squad for the England series includes several fresh faces: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, and Arshdeep Singh, alongside experienced names like Bumrah, Siraj, and Jadeja. The challenge now lies in blending youth with experience in unfamiliar English conditions.
