The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, starting July 16. Virat Kohli returns to the ODI setup after missing the home series against Afghanistan due to a right hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026 final. However, senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya was the notable absentee, with no specific reason provided by the BCCI for his omission.
Squad Leadership and Key Inclusions
Shubman Gill will lead the squad, with Shreyas Iyer named vice-captain. The squad also includes Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav, and returning stars Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar retained his place after impressive performances in recent home assignments, while young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy continued to earn selectors' backing.
Kohli's comeback is subject to fitness clearance. The veteran batter was rested from the Afghanistan series after sustaining a right hamstring injury during his match-winning knock in the IPL 2026 final, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their title.
Prasidh Krishna Added to Ireland T20I Squad
In a separate development, the BCCI announced that pacer Prasidh Krishna has been added to India's T20I squad for the two-match series against Ireland. He replaces mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who remains sidelined while recovering from a left foot injury suffered during IPL 2026. According to the BCCI, Chakaravarthy is in the final stages of rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (COE) and is yet to receive clearance for competitive cricket.
Upcoming Series Schedule
India's immediate assignment is the two-match T20I series against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28. The Men in Blue will then take on England in a five-match T20I series before shifting focus to the ODI leg of the tour. The three-match ODI series against England will begin at Edgbaston, followed by the second ODI in Cardiff on July 16. The final match of the series will be played at Lord's on July 19.
