Team India, coached by Gautam Gambhir, has taken a shocking decision before the 5-match Test series against England began. The team management chose to release Anshul Kamboj from the tour, reported by Revsportz. The rest of the India 'A' team players, including Kamboj, have been released and are expected to return to India after their duties.

According to the report, the board preferred Harshit Rana over Anshul. But the interesting fact is that Kamboj had generated better stats than Rana against England Lions in this tour. Kamboj not only contributed to India 'A' team's performance with the ball but also with his batting. 

Anshul Kamboj vs. England Lions:

• India A vs. England Lions, 1st unofficial Test: 23, 1/69

• India vs. England Lions, 2nd unofficial Test: 2 & 51*, 2/56 & 2/6. 

Read More: ENG vs IND: Team India's close-door tactic reveals! IPL franchise shared information

Now, if we talk about Rana and compare his stats with Kamboj, the difference will be clearly visible. Harshit played only one match against England Lions, in the first unofficial match, where he claimed one scalp against 99 runs and got 16 while he batted. Like Rana, Kamboj also bagged only one wicket from this high-scoring match, but Harshit conceded more runs than the other pacer. While the Haryana-born seamer spent 69 runs to take one wicket, Rana spent 99 against the same number of wickets. 

So, why the management is preferring Rana over Kamboj is not clear as of now. The 23-year-old has the experience of playing a couple of overseas Tests, which were in Australia last year. In 2 matches against the host, he took a total of 4 wickets. All four wickets he snatched during the Perth Test, and he remained wicket-less in Adelaide. 

On Saturday (May 24), the Men’s Selection Committee selected an 18-member Indian senior men’s Test squad for the upcoming England tour, where they will play a five-match Test series. Here, we are going through the unselected India XI for the England tour. 

India will start their 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship journey with the five-match Test series in England. Due to the recent retirement of Test captain Rohit Sharma and legendary cricketer Virat Kohli, along with legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, India have some new Test faces along with special comebacks. 

India tour of England 2025: Key Indian squad facts

Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh are the new faces in Indian Test cricket, while Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur have returned to the Test squad. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has been selected as the new Test captain, while Rishabh Pant is set to play his deputy role in the red-ball format.

India tour of England 2025: Top unselected Indian players

Meanwhile, we are missing some strong names in the Indian Test squad for the upcoming England tour. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are the two strong names who could take important responsibilities with their strong experiences, especially when we miss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. 

Shreyas Iyer, who has played 14 Tests, is also an important name on the missing list. His last Test was the 2024 Visakhapatnam Test against England. 

See Also: IND vs ENG: Why Shreyas Iyer was not selected in India’s Test squad for England tour?

Two-Test experienced Ishan Kishan is another strong name to miss the England tour, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is yet to make his Test debut. Sarfaraz Khan, who made his Test debut during the England tour of India 2024-25 season and has played six Tests, has been dropped from the Test squad.  

Anshul Kamboj is a special pace-bowling all-rounder, who was in the news in November 2024 after becoming the third Ranji Trophy bowler to record a 10-wicket haul in an innings. The 24-year-old has huge potential. Axar Patel, with 14-Test experience, is also missing from the Test squad.

Among the pacers, we are missing Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana, along with the veteran Mohammed Shami, whose fitness is reportedly still a concern for Test cricket. Khaleel is yet to make his Test debut, while Harshit has played two Tests after making his debut during India's tour of Australia last season.  

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan, Anshul Kamboj, Harshit Rana, and Khaleel Ahmed are set to travel to England earlier in the Test series as a part of the India A squad. So, any of them can join the Indian Test squad during the upcoming England tour. 

Unselected India XI vs England

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Axar Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana, Khaleel Ahmed 

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players were in a good mood as they had a merry flight to Chandigarh before their IPL 2025 match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday, April 15. A clip shared by the franchise caught a lighthearted rapid-fire session with Vaibhav Arora, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Venkatesh Iyer. The clip was filled with jokes, playful jibes, and laughter, reflecting the close camaraderie among the players.

KKR's mood was predictably upbeat following their emphatic victory against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk. That commanding performance has given the Shreyas Iyer-led team a boost in confidence, who now look to carry their momentum forward in Mullanpur, where they face a Punjab Kings side still reeling from a stunning loss. PBKS could not defend a massive total of 246 in their previous match, courtesy of Abhishek Sharma's jaw-dropping century that took the game away.

Mid-Air Jokes Keep Morale High

During the flight, the Knights played a quick-fire game of jokes. It was not long before Harshit Rana was the prime target of jokes. When asked who tends to be late for flights, all three of them – Vaibhav Arora, Ramandeep Singh, and Venkatesh Iyer – pointed directly at the Delhi speedster. Rana, never one to miss a chance, laughed and named Ramandeep instead.

ALSO SEE: Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are most admired players in IPL 2025

The second question was regarding who in the team is always having food. Again, Rana chose Ramandeep, stating the all-rounder is always with food. This elicited more giggles from the group.

When it came to the "sleeping giant" of the team, Venkatesh humorously christened head coach Chandrakant Pandit. Meanwhile, Rana and Arora both said Rovman Powell wears the crown. Right on cue, the camera cut to Powell, sound asleep on the flight, confirming their choice most ridiculously.

No filters, all fun! Knights in rapid fire mode ⚡ pic.twitter.com/iiUKi5D237

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 14, 2025

The Funniest Moment: A Browser Confession

The highlight came when the players were questioned whose browser history they would least like to open. With no hesitation, Ramandeep stated, "Harshit Rana ka browser nahi khol sakta hu [I cannot open Harshit Rana's browser]." The team erupted in laughter, and even Vaibhav Arora concurred. But Rana was not going to let it go quietly. He pointed straight back at Ramandeep, saying his would be worse. The back-and-forth jibes created a hilarious segment that fans enjoyed on social media.

ALSO SEE: Top players with most Player of the Match Awards in history of IPL

KKR and PBKS are presently placed at positions number five and six on the IPL points table. With both teams hoping to make it to the top four, Tuesday's game is of great significance. A victory here would bring either team close to the playoffs.

While KKR's players were smiling and joking on the flight, they are aware of the serious task at hand. But with team morale high and everyone having a good time with each other, the Knights appear set not only to battle, but to enjoy themselves while doing so.

In a recent 30-meter sprint, Harshit Rana raced against Ramandeep Singh. Despite putting in his best effort Harshit was unable to beat Ramandeep, who finished first. The race, which was expected to be competitive, ended with Ramandeep crossing the line with ease, leaving Harshit disappointed with his performance. After the race, Harshit visibly upset made a request to those present. He asked that the video of the race not be uploaded or shared online. His request highlighted the emotional toll a public loss can take on athletes.

ALSO SEE: Watch: Rajasthan Royals share emotional video tributing Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of their clash against Punjab Kings

Ramandeep’s victory was well-deserved, as he showed impressive speed and technique throughout the race. He was praised by onlookers for his performance, with many acknowledging his consistent form in recent competitions. On the other hand Harshit’s reaction after the race reflected the pressure athletes often face when they fall short of expectations. His please not to share the video was an emotional response, revealing the vulnerability athletes experience after a loss.

Sorry, but not sorry Harshit bhai 😉😜 pic.twitter.com/a9r3K5SoZv

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 5, 2025

Emotional Toll of Defeat

This incident underscores the mental and emotional challenges athletes face, especially when they perform poorly in front of an audience. The public nature of competitive sports adds another layer of stress, as athletes feel they need to maintain a certain image. For Harshit, the disappointment of losing was intensified by the fear of having his defeat shared widely on social media. In an age where everything is recorded and shared online, the pressure to avoid embarrassment can be overwhelming.

ALSO SEE: Watch: Rohit Sharma's hilarious conversation with LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka

The event has sparked discussions about the mental health of athletes. Many fans and fellow competitors expressed empathy for Harshit, acknowledging that every athlete goes through ups and downs. Support for Harshit’s request has been widespread, with people recognizing that losing doesn’t define an athlete's abilities or worth. This incident serves as a reminder that behind every race, there is a human being who faces personal challenges, and that emotional well-being should be prioritized alongside physical performance.

Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a talent nursery, and upcoming talents have been given the perfect platform to establish themselves. With the next season in 2025, some of India's budding cricketers are ready to take the spotlight. Here are ten young players who could be the next sensation in IPL 2025.

1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals)

At the age of just 13, Vaibhav Suryavanshi created history by being the youngest player ever picked in an IPL auction. Rajasthan Royals put their money on his big-hitting abilities, signing him up for ₹1.10 crore. Despite being very young, his raw talent has already made people compare him with some of the greatest hitters in the game.

2. Mayank Yadav (Lucknow Super Giants)

Mayank Yadav is the actual fast-bowling sensation, regularly delivering balls above 150 km/h. His aggression, bounce, and speed are already making cricket enthusiasts' hearts skip a beat, and he could well turn out to be a game-changing asset for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025.

3. Priyansh Arya (Punjab Kings)

A promising opening-order batsman, Priyansh Arya has been going around in the domestic circuit. Punjab Kings would hope that consistency at the shorter format finds reflection in the large format too, where he can be the final nail in nailing down their batting lineup.

4. Nitish Kumar Reddy (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Nitish Kumar Reddy is a spine-tingling all-round option who impressed both with the bat and with the ball. He can offer dashing match-winning knocks as well as crucial overs and could be a game-changer in the Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

5. Gurjapneet Singh (Chennai Super Kings)

Chennai Super Kings do have a propensity to invest money in young and talented fast bowlers, and Gurjapneet Singh is their newest addition. Having raw pace coupled with sharp accuracy, he might prove to be a useful bowler for CSK in the next season.

ALSO SEE: IPL 2025: Cricket Experts Predict Top 4 Teams for Playoffs

6. Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals)

A current staple in IPL, Riyan Parag continues to grow and improve as a cricketer. His batting capabilities and efficient leg-spin contribute him to being an exciting all-round cricketer for Rajasthan Royals. It can be 2025 when he fixes in as an IPL regular with stability.

7. Harshit Rana (Kolkata Knight Riders)

A temperamental young pacer, Harshit Rana has the aggressive mindset to succeed at the highest level. With bright showings in domestic cricket to his credit, he could become a key cog in the Kolkata Knight Riders' pace unit.

8. Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans)

Sai Sudharsan has already proved his worth in previous IPL seasons by impressing one with his ability to build an innings and score runs when needed. Gujarat Titans will rely on him to firm up their batting order in 2025.

9. Dhruv Jurel (Rajasthan Royals)

A  wicketkeeper-batsman, Dhruv Jurel is a pressure player. With an inclination to take bowlers on and play aggressive knocks, he is an important player for Rajasthan Royals, and he could have a breakout season in 2025.

10. Tilak Varma (Mumbai Indians)

Tilak Varma has already proved himself to be among the most promising young batting sensations in India. With his exquisite stroke play and calm attitude, Mumbai Indians will expect him to be one of their key middle-order contributors in IPL 2025.

The Champions Trophy final is to be played on the 9th of March. It looks like some changes may take place in the team. Kuldeep Yadav has been a centre point in this Champions Trophy where he has been least effective even the recently added  Chakravarthy has also got a fifer against the New Zealand game. It is been a worrying sign for Kuldeep Yadav and team India too ahead of this big final. 

India would be seeking to take the revenge that New Zealand gave 25 years ago. Kuldeep had been much effective in these pitches which is not a good sign for India. Even in the semi-final match against Australia was also looking colour, he missed the ball while a run-out could have been pulled even Rohit and Kohli couldn't able to control their anger. Experts believe that Kuldeep can be dropped in the big final. 

Read More: Winning The IPL Trophy With RCB Will Be Perfect Farewell For Virat Kohli Says De Villiers

Is Kuldeep Missing Any Trick

Its been depicted that Kuldeep has been clearly out of form . Another tendency of Kuldeep Yadav is he has been wicketless in knockout games which becomes another headache for India he is averaging 36.63. In 2023 World Cup final he didn't picked a single wicket. In T20 World cup 2024 he was wicketless there too and the last in CT semi finals against Australia there too he couldn't able to purchase any wicket. 

In a recent report, its been said that the Champions Trophy final is to be played on a fresh pitch. If it's a fresh pitch then it will support the pace bowler the most which will give good carry and bounce. India has 3 quality spinners with them in the name of Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel. It is idle that the fourth spinner might not come into play. Instead of this India has two choices one to bring back Harshit Rana who can give some pace and bounce or either play Washington Sundar who can give you the role of an all-rounder. 

Read More: RCB Star Ellyse Perry Talks About The Maha Kumbh Mela

Experts Eye On For Washington Sundar

Former cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra has said on his YouTube Channel that it is 80 per cent confirmed Kuldeep Yadav may be rested for this match and India may pitch to Washington Sundar who can play the role of an allrounder, it's not sure whether he will play or not but there are possibilities that he may get a game. 

Aakash believes Washington Sundar has already done good against New Zealand and his inputs will be very valuable. Till now the combination has been good for India if they want a change it would be definitely Kuldeep Yadav who have to go out. 

Indian cricket has discovered yet another treasure in Harshit Rana, a promising fast bowler who has stormed the world of cricket with his stunning debut performances. In a rare and stunning achievement, Rana has taken three wickets on his debut in all formats and even the Champions Trophy, demonstrating his irrefutable talent and promise.

- 3 wickets on Test Debut.
- 3 wickets on T20I Debut.
- 3 wickets on ODI Debut.
- 3 wickets on Champions Trophy Debut.

HARSHIT RANA IS A STAR...!!!! ✨ pic.twitter.com/MZt5Qzkb4h

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 20, 2025

A Dream Start Across Formats
Impressing in one guise is hard enough, but impressing in all guises is a testament to Rana's ability and temperament. Whether it's the red-ball test of Test cricket, the pace of T20s, or the stress of international competitions like the Champions Trophy, he has performed every time.
Test Debut: 3 wickets, making an impression in the longest version of the game.
T20I Debut: 3 wickets in a hard-fought match.
ODI Debut: A match-winning spell that took 3 wickets.
Champions Trophy Debut: Once more, 3 wickets to leave a mark on the big stage.

ALSO SEE:  Social media shower praises for unstoppable Mohammed Shami

A Future Star of Indian Cricket
Harshit Rana's consistent performance indicates that India has unearthed a future pace leader. His capability to fit into varying conditions, bowl with speed and precision, and play under pressure situations gives the team reasons to look ahead.
With his incredible beginning, Rana has already etched his name in cricket history. If he maintains the same course, Indian cricket supporters can hope to see a new fast-bowling superstar being born.

Harshit Rana has been flavour of the season as regards India's new generation of fast bowlers but one of head coach Gautam Gambhir's discoveries is not likely to play in India's playing eleven in the Champions Trophy with Arshdeep Singh still being regarded way ahead in terms of quality and talent. The Indian team management entrusted Harshit with all three ODIs against England, and if one is strictly fair to the hulking 6-feet-2-inch tall Delhi pacer, he has not been out of place.

Though Arshdeep has a superior economy rate of 5.17 against Harshit's 6.95 per over, it is the former's skill to get the ball back into the right-handers in the Powerplay overs that will make the difference in his favour in the tournament from February 19.

Arshdeep Singh likely to start in the opening match of Champions Trophy.

- Harshit Rana unlikely to play. (PTI). pic.twitter.com/w6iOvcv5XT

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 17, 2025

Arshdeep, who has played only nine ODIs after making his debut in a series of short ODIs in New Zealand in 2022, will be better in all but one aspect if one considers the parameters that would be used based on the conditions present at the Dubai International Stadium.

ALSO SEE :  Indian Flag Missing at Pakistan Venue, Controversy Erupts

Harshit Importance Stated by PTI :

While talking to PTI, Devang stated, 'Harshit has developed leaps and bounds in losing weight and also got sharper as far as speed is concerned. But if I had to pick one out of the two as Mohammed Shami's partner, it has to be Arshdeep because he can swing both ways and is a left-armer.''I would be a bit surprised if Harshit begins ahead of Arshdeep.'The PTI report further added that team management's move to include Harshit in all the three games to try the KKR bowler's credentials and see if he can replace the shoes of the ace Indian pacer who has been India's flagbearer in all the formats.

Harshit Rana replaces Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah will miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19, due to a back injury. He got injured during the final Test against Australia in Sydney last month and had been recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Fans were hoping for his return, but sadly, that won’t happen.  

The BCCI confirmed the news on Tuesday. BCCI said that, "Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. The Selection Committee has named Harshit Rana as his replacement."

ALSO READ: Varun Chakaravarthy Replaces Yashasvi Jaiswal in Champions Trophy for India, Know Why?

Two big changes in India’s final squad for Champions Trophy 2025 from the provisional squad! 🔄🇮🇳

What do you make of these updates? 🤔#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/w8xZdlXpIg

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 11, 2025

Varun Chakaravarthy replaces Yashasvi Jaiswal

Meanwhile, mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has earned a spot in the squad after his impressive performance in the T20I series and Second ODI against England. He will replace attacking batter Yashasvi Jaiswal. The BCCI also said, "Varun Chakaravarthy has been added to the squad, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was originally part of the provisional squad."

India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy, 2025: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Non Travelling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube

Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been officially ruled out from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also announced his replacement for the upcoming ICC tournament.

The 31-year-old Jasprit Bumrah, the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2024, is suffering a lower-back injury, which he sustained during the last Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground in early January. While Bumrah was leading that important Test match, which was a must-win game for the visitors to level the series and save the trophy, he couldn't bowl in the final innings of the match. 

Jasprit Bumrah isn't ready to bowl yet

Although Bumrah was expected to be fit for the last game of the ongoing three-match home ODI series against England in Ahmedabad, which will be played tomorrow (February 12), he needs more time to recover. According to the latest ESPNcricinfo report, Bumrah’s latest scan report reveals that the fast bowler needs more time to return to his bowling fitness.

See Also: Losing Series Doesn’t Matter, We’ll Beat India in Champions Trophy: Ben Duckett

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Harshit Rana replaced Jasprit Bumrah

On the other hand, Harshit Rana has been named as Bumrah's replacement for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He is playing the ongoing home ODI series against England as a replacement for Bumrah. After making his Test debut in the recent Australia tour, Rana just made his T20I and ODI debuts at home against England.  

Meanwhile, the leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been added to the final Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While the young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was named in the Indian provisional squad for the upcoming ICC tournament, he has to leave his place for the in-form Varun, who just made his ODI debut in the last game at Cuttack.