Mumbai: Speaking exclusively on Follow The Blues – Selectors Meet on JioHotstar ahead of the squad announcement for India’s tour of England, JioStar expert and former national selector Saba Karim shared his preference for a young leader to take charge in the new WTC cycle:
“You have Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant. Considering this is the start of a new WTC cycle, I would go with a young, talented leader—Shubman Gill. Although he’s yet to fully establish himself at the Test level, I’d like to see the selectors make a bold move. We’ve seen his leadership skills in the shorter format with GT, and he seems to be in a very happy space when leading. That should bode well for India.”
JioStar expert and former BCCI selection committee chairman Kiran More backed experience over youth for India’s next red-ball captain:
“I would go with KL Rahul—he’s an experienced campaigner. I don’t want to put too much pressure on Shubman Gill. He hasn’t done enough in Test cricket yet. He hasn’t played much domestic cricket either, so there’s a lot of learning still to do in the longer format. Let him grow—maybe he can be vice-captain for a year or two. For now, KL Rahul is the right choice. He has the experience, temperament, and communication skills needed to lead.”
Kiran More also suggested the need for a balanced left-right combination for the opening pair for the upcoming England series:
“The England tour should be used to create opportunities for players like Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad. You’ll need three or four openers. Yashasvi Jaiswal has already proven himself. With Shubman Gill around, you can have a solid left-right combination. Sai Sudharsan can also bat at No. 3. He’s smart, composed, and not flashy. The series won’t be easy, so give these players a chance to grow. Out of them, you’ll find your long-term openers.”
Saba Karim shared his views on the opening pair combination:
“Before the selectors decide on the squad, they must keep two things in mind: don’t get carried away by recent performances and respect the pecking order—players who have consistently played for India A or have been part of the Test setup. Abhimanyu Easwaran fits that bill. He has a solid domestic record and has done well in SENA countries. I’d go with Easwaran and Jaiswal as the opening pair—one right-hander and one left-hander, with strong technique for English conditions.”
JioStar expert Sarandeep Singh underlined why experience matters in tough English conditions, backing KL Rahul as an opener:
“I’d back KL Rahul to open. Pairing him with Jaiswal gives you experience in challenging conditions like England. Easwaran is still new—there’ll be pressure on him, and the opposition will sense that. KL Rahul brings balance. He knows how to survive tricky sessions and shift momentum when needed. If Easwaran plays, he could be slotted at No. 3. But if you’re looking for stability at the top, KL Rahul and Jaiswal should open.”
Kiran More suggested a pivotal role for KL Rahul at No. 4:
“KL Rahul is ideal for No. 4. You could open with Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Eswaran can be your backup opener or bat at No. 3. Sai Sudharsan gives you flexibility—he can bat anywhere, top or middle. Don’t forget Karun Nair. He’s scored over 7,800 runs in domestic cricket and has a triple hundred in Tests. You need solid backup across the order, where KL Rahul at No. 4 can anchor the innings, especially after two quick wickets or against the second new ball.”
Kiran also discussed about the all-rounder options from the England series:
“You already have all-rounders like Jadeja. I’d also include Washington Sundar—he’s played Test cricket and done well. He’s useful with the bat and can balance the side. With many left-handers around, pace-bowling all-rounders will also be important. Nitesh Reddy could be a good option in that space.”
Kiran More shared his preferred pace bowlers for the tour:
“My pace picks would include Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh—he played county cricket last year. Shami, if fit, must be considered—even for two or three Tests. Experience matters a lot in England because the bowling lengths are very different. Harshit Rana might bowl a good length in Australia, but England demands something else. You need to build the team keeping all this in mind.”
