BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia responds on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s availability for Test series vs England, says ‘that is for selectors to…’

New Delhi: India’s cricket team roster for their upcoming England tour should be announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) within the next fortnight, according to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.

“India’s squad for Test series against England to be picked in two weeks time,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Sports Tak.

Saikia responded to a question regarding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s participation in the upcoming series against England, “That is for selectors to decide”.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively preparing for the upcoming Test series. This includes player selection and logistical arrangements for members of the India A team, who will play three four-day matches as preparation before the Test series begins June 20th. The India A team is expected to leave for England around May 25th.

Several Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 players will join the national Test team at a later date. The Test team is scheduled to leave for England in early June, with some players participating in a four-day match before an intra-squad game in the second week of June. This staggered departure, mirroring the team’s travel arrangements for the Australia tour, indicates that players may travel to England in separate groups during the first week of June. This approach allows for players, like Dhruv Jurel and KL Rahul previously, to gain valuable match practice before joining the main squad.

India’s upcoming two-month tour of England will feature Test matches in London, Headingley, Birmingham, and Manchester. This series marks the beginning of their World Test Championship campaign for 2025-2027. India aims to break a long-standing drought, having last won a Test series in England in 2007. While they nearly achieved a victory in 2021, the series ended in a draw.

A five-Test cricket series between India and England is planned. The matches will be played at Headingley (June 20-24), Edgbaston (July 2-6), Lord’s (July 10-14), Old Trafford (July 23-27), and The Oval (July 31-August 4).

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