The India-England Test rivalry is set for a fresh chapter as the Indian team embarks on a five-match Test series in England starting June 20, 2025. This tour marks the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket, with Shubman Gill taking over as captain and Rishabh Pant as vice-captain. India, still chasing their first Test series win on English soil since 2007, came agonizingly close in 2021, drawing the series 2–2. However, the 2025 squad reflects significant generational change, with several big names from the previous tour missing out this time.
List of absent players who represented India in the 2021 tour of England
The most striking omissions from the current squad are the legendary duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom have retired from Test cricket. Alongside them, pace spearhead Mohammed Shami and middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer have also been left out of the 2025 touring party. These players were instrumental in India’s 2021 campaign and have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket.
Here is a list of Indian players who featured in the 2021 England Test series but are absent from the 2025 squad:
- Virat Kohli (captain in 2021)
- Rohit Sharma
- Mohammed Shami
- Shreyas Iyer
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Umesh Yadav
- Ishant Sharma
- Hanuma Vihari
- Wriddhiman Saha
- Ravichandran Ashwin
Each of these players contributed significantly during the 2021 tour. Kohli, though not at his peak, led the side with typical aggression and tactical acumen. Rohit was India’s highest run-scorer in the series, amassing 368 runs, including a pivotal century at The Oval. Mohammed Shami provided crucial breakthroughs with the ball, while Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara offered stability in the middle order. Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma were part of the formidable pace attack, and Ravichandran Ashwin, though underused, remained a potent weapon.
Performances of the omitted players on the 2021 England tour
The 2021 tour saw several of these now-omitted players deliver memorable performances:
Rohit Sharma
Scored 368 runs, including a match-winning 127 at The Oval, showcasing his adaptability and temperament in challenging English conditions.
Virat Kohli
Registered three half-centuries and led the side with intensity, though he missed a century. His leadership was instrumental in India taking a 2–1 lead before the final Test.
Mohammed Shami
Claimed crucial wickets and played a defining unbeaten 56 at Lord’s, helping India seize a historic win.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane
Provided several gritty partnerships, particularly in the second and third Tests, absorbing pressure and blunting the English attack.
Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma
Both contributed with key wickets, especially in the fourth Test at The Oval, where Yadav’s three-wicket hauls in both innings were pivotal.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Despite limited opportunities due to team combinations, Ashwin’s presence was always a strategic consideration.
Their absence from the 2025 squad signals a bold transition, with the selectors placing faith in a younger core to script a new chapter in England. The legacy of these veterans, however, will continue to inspire the next generation as India seeks to conquer English conditions once more.
