‘Strange Team’: Sanjay Manjrekar reacts to India’s Test squad for England tour

Sanjay Manjrekar, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill

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India Test squad for England tour: Shubman Gill to lead, Rishabh Pant his deputy

Shubman Gill story: From a remote village near the border to India’s Test captain

India’s Test squad for the upcoming five-match series in England has sparked a wave of reactions, the most striking of which came from former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar. Taking to social media platform X, Manjrekar described the selection as “strange” but struck a note of optimism, saying, “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.”The comment encapsulates the mixed feelings surrounding the squad, which marks the beginning of a new era in Indian Test cricket. With stalwarts Virat Kohli , Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin having recently retired from the format, the selectors have opted for a bold overhaul, naming Shubman Gill as captain and Rishabh Pant as his deputy.Chairman of the senior men’s selection committee Ajit Agarkar acknowledged the magnitude of the transition. “When guys like Rohit, Kohli and Ashwin retire, it always leaves big holes. But this is also a big opportunity for the next generation,” Agarkar said at the BCCI HQ press conference.The squad features a mix of youth and experience, with some selections surprising observers. Karun Nair makes a comeback after seven years, edging out Sarfaraz Khan despite the latter’s hundred on debut earlier this year.Sai Sudharsan, known for his IPL exploits, has also been included, though Agarkar insisted his selection was based on temperament and red-ball potential rather than T20 form.Quiz: Who's that IPL player? One of the key concerns is Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness. Agarkar clarified that the pace spearhead is unlikely to feature in all five Tests. “If he is available for 3-4 Tests, he is going to win us games. But we’ll manage his workload,” he said.With Mohammed Shami not fully fit, Arshdeep Singh has been given his maiden Test call-up, while Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna also form part of the fast bowling arsenal. The selectors have also shown faith in all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Nitish Reddy, hoping their dual skills can provide crucial balance.India’s squad for the England Test series:Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain & Wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh.

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