IND vs ENG: Former Coach Ravi Shastri Wants Sai Sudharsan And Arshdeep Singh in India Squad For England Tour

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri wants youngsters B Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh to feature in the Indian squad for the upcoming tour to England for a five-match Test series, scheduled to start from June 20.

England will host India in their first assignment of the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 - starting with the first Test in in Headingley, Leed followed by the second Test in Edgbaston, Birmingham on July 2 before matches in Lord's, Manchester and London's The Oval.

Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh backed for Test calls by former India head coach Ravi Shastri

The IND vs ENG series is going to be crucial for India after the home series loss to New Zealand last year, which ended their 12-year dominance at home, and a 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which cost them a spot in the upcoming WTC Final 2025.

The Senior Men's Selection Committee will soon meet to finalize the squad for the overseas Test assignment. And former cricketer Shastri called for Team India to include a left-arm pacer Arshdeep as he is a "thinking bowler".

Speaking on the latest episode of The ICC Review, as quoted by the ICC, Shastri said, "I will be looking for a left-armer. I will be keeping an eye on which left-armer is in good form, and try and squeeze him in there as the sixth (bowling) option."

"It could be anyone. It could even be a white-ball specialist. I do not like this thing when they say someone like Arshdeep Singh is a 'white-ball specialist'. I will keep a close eye on his red-ball record as well and the number of overs he bowls.

"If he can bowl 15-20 overs for me, he might very well be in the mix because he's got the mindset. He is a thinking bowler, and I need a left-armer. It is just that. You need a left-armer, go and find him, whoever it is, and whoever is the best of the lot - pick them.

"There is Khaleel Ahmed, who again, his rhythm is good, he is bowling well. So it is important to get that mix." Both Arshdeep and Khaleel have previously featured in India's limited-overs squads, but neither has made their Test debut yet.

Arshdeep has been dominant in T20Is and is the team's highest-wicket-taker ever with 99 scalps in 63 matches. He has also taken 14 wickets in nine ODIs, including a five-wicket haul in South Africa.

Arshdeep has shown promise in red-ball cricket, claiming 66 wickets in 21 first-class matches. His recent stint with Kent in the 2024 County Championship, where he picked up 13 wickets in five games, added valuable exposure to English conditions.

Shastri calls for Sai Sudharsan inclusion and Shreyas Iyer return

"I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game," Shastri told The ICC Review as quoted by ICC. "He seems like a class player and my eyes would be on him certainly."

Sudharsan brings valuable experience in English conditions, having turned out for Surrey in the County Championship in 2023 and 2024. In five matches, he scored 281 runs, including a century and a fifty.

In 29 first-class matches overall, he has 1957 runs at an average of 39.93, including a maiden double-century in the format in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season for Tamil Nadu against Delhi in October 2024.

"Being a left-hander in England, knowing English conditions, and just his technique, the way he plays, I think he will be top of the list for me from the outsiders wanting to get into this side," added Shastri.

Among the other batting options, Shastri floated the idea of Shreyas Iyer returning to the Test setup, especially after his inclusion in India's latest central contract list. Iyer has impressed in sub-continental conditions, scoring 736 runs in 11 Tests across India and Bangladesh at an average of 43.29.

However, opportunities outside Asia have been limited, and he is yet to make a mark, managing just 75 runs in three matches, with appearances in South Africa and a solitary outing in England.

"He (Shreyas Iyer) can (make a comeback), but it's again going to be a competition," Shastri noted. "White-ball, certain. Test cricket, we have got to see who the other players are around," he added.