While the cricketers are busy in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the focus on India's upcoming tour of England is growing as time progresses. In recent media reports, we have got some latest key information regarding this forthcoming major tour. 

India tour of England 2025

After the IPL 2025, India will tour England for a five-match Test series, which will be their first assignment in the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship. This five-match Test series will run from June 20 to August 4, 2025. The two-time ICC World Test Championship runners-up India are desperate to start the Championship in a strong way to erase their grief for their late unsuccess in the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. 

Before the Test series, India A are likely to play three four-day matches against the hosts England Lions to set a strong preparation for the crucial long Test series. The schedule hasn't been officially revealed yet. 

See Also: List of cricketers honored with Padma Shri award by Indian Government

• Captaincy and players

According to the latest Times of India report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is focusing on setting the best possible team with proper practice for the upcoming big Test series in England. The selectors have reportedly shortlisted almost 35 players for India A and senior teams that will travel to England after the IPL 2025. Rohit Sharma is likely to continue his leadership role in the longest format. Some of the key senior players can be requested to play one of the three-match series for India A.  

• Some key special names for Test cricket

With the recent strong performances, Rajat Patidar and Karun Nair are under the selection consideration for the middle-order batting. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel are not in the shortlist, as per the report.  

• Spinner after Ravichandran Ashwin

In the absence of retired off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav is set to return in Test cricket, who played his last Test outside Asia in January 2019 in Australia.

• Backup opener

Talking about the backup opener, we have no information about Abhimanyu Easwaran, but the in-form Sai Sudharsan, who has played three ODIs and one T20I, can be considered in the senior squad. 

India tour of England 2025: Key points

• Rohit Sharma can continue his captaincy role.
• Around 35 players have been shortlisted for India A & Senior team.
• Rajat Patidar & Karun Nair can join as middle-order options.
• Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel are reportedly not present in the shortlist.
• Sai Sudharsan can be a backup opener.
• Kuldeep Yadav set to return in the away Test. 
• Concern about Mohammed Siraj's latest Test performances.

The BCCI has announced its central contracts for the 2024–25 season, and they include a mix of expected names, some surprises, and a few great comeback stories. At the top, there are no changes: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja stay in the Grade A+ group. These four are still key players for India, even though Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja have stepped away from T20Is after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.

One big name missing is R Ashwin, who retired from international cricket last year. His name being removed from the top group is the only major change there. One of the most inspiring stories this year is Rishabh Pant's return to Grade A. Just over a year ago, Pant was recovering from a serious car accident. He missed more than a year of cricket and was dropped from Grade A to Grade B.

But in IPL 2024 and after, Pant made a strong comeback. He played 10 Test matches, 1 ODI, and 10 T20Is. His return shows his strong will, good form, and the trust the team has in him. Now, he is back in Grade A, joining Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Hardik Pandya.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were dropped from the contracts list last year. It wasn’t just because of poor performance they were also criticized for not playing domestic cricket. Kishan skipped Ranji Trophy to play in a T20 tournament, and Iyer said he had back pain but didn’t make himself available for his state team. The BCCI was clear: if you don’t play domestic cricket when you’re free, you won’t get support.

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] What is Maverick award Rohit Sharma achieved as Mumbai Indians player during IPL 2025

But both players worked hard. Iyer had a great season. he led KKR to an IPL win, won the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Mumbai, and did well in India’s Champions Trophy win. He is now back in Grade B with Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Kishan has also returned to Grade C after a strong season with Jharkhand.

New Beginnings for Some, Harsh Exits for Others

Seven new players have received central contracts, all in Grade C. These are Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, Abhishek Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana. They have done well in domestic cricket and IPL, and this shows that India is preparing a strong bench for the future.

Not everyone got good news. Shardul Thakur, KS Bharat, Jitesh Sharma, Avesh Khan, and some others have been dropped. Some were not in good form. Others, like Avesh Khan, did well in T20Is and IPL but still lost their place. Avesh last played for India in November 2024 and has taken 27 wickets in 25 T20Is. But with many new options, he has been left out this time.

What These Contracts Mean

The BCCI has not officially announced the salary amounts, but reports say the payments are the same as last year:

• Grade A+: ₹7 crore
• Grade A: ₹5 crore
• Grade B: ₹3 crore
• Grade C: ₹1 crore

These numbers are not just about money, they show how much the team trusts a player and how important they are for the future.

ALSO SEE: Rohit Sharma: "I was not allowed inside Wankhede Stadium" – gets emotional after winning Man of the Match vs CSK

Full List of 2024–25 BCCI Central Contracts

• Grade A+: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja

• Grade A: Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya

• Grade B: Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal

• Grade C: Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana

New Names: Iyer, Kishan, Jurel, Sarfaraz, Abhishek, Nitish, Akash, Varun, Harshit
Out: Ashwin (retired), Thakur, Jitesh, Bharat, Avesh, Umran, Vyshak, Yash Dayal, Kaverappa
Promoted: Rishabh Pant (B to A)
Retired: R Ashwin

The BCCI has sent a clear message: If you perform well and respect domestic cricket, your place in Indian cricket is never lost. These contracts are more than just a list. They show who the board trusts and who the future stars might be.

India’s Cricket Schedule Till the 2026 T20 World Cup

India celebrated a major victory by winning the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final. This was India’s third Champions Trophy title and their first in 12 years. But now, the attention is given to the future matches and tournaments.

India did not make it to the WTC 2023-25 final after losing to New Zealand and Australia. But they will now start their journey towards the next phase of the WTC with a Test series against England.

Key Highlights

• India will play 9 Test matches and 12 ODIs over the next year.

• The T20I team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will play 18 T20 matches in addition to the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.

• India aims to win the Pataudi Trophy against England after 18 years.

• With possible leadership changes, a new captain could take charge in red-ball cricket.

• India will defend its T20 World Cup title in February March 2026.

India’s Upcoming Series

ALSO SEE: Lucknow Super Giants Playing 11 vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 Match 16

Before the England series, Indian players will participate in the IPL 2025. The tournament starts on March 22 at Eden Gardens, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match. The final will also be held at Eden Gardens on May 25.

The next year promises exciting cricket for Indian fans, with key tournaments and series lined up before the big T20 World Cup

In less than two weeks of India's successful campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the cash reward for the title-winning members.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 returned after eight years as Pakistan were the hosts for the ninth edition of the tournament. Including the hosts and defending champions Pakistan, eight teams participated in the tournament, and the other teams were India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. 

While all six other foreign teams traveled to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India rejected traveling to Pakistan, and ultimately all of their matches shifted to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

India won all the matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The Rohit Sharma-led India started from Group A with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. After beating Bangladesh and Pakistan by six wickets each, the Men in Blues beat New Zealand in their last group stage match against New Zealand by 44 runs. In the first Semi-final, India beat Australia by four wickets. India and New Zealand met once again in the Final of the tournament, and India won their third ICC Champions Trophy title after winning it by four wickets. 

Under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly, India jointly won the ICC Champions Trophy 2002 along with the hosts Sri Lanka as their Final matches (including a fresh start on the reserve day) ended with no results. In the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, MS Dhoni-led India beat the hosts England in the Final to win their second Champions Trophy. Now, India has become the first team to win the ICC Champions Trophy three times. 

See Also: BCCI Planning To Organise Opening Ceremony At All 13 Venues

BCCI awards INR 58 crore for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 winners

On March 20, the BCCI announced the INR 58 crore cash reward for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 winning members. In their official statement, BCCI added, "This financial recognition honours the players, coaching and support staff and members of the Men’s Selection Committee."

The announced cash prize will be distributed between the 15-member Indian squad, the coaching and support staff, and the Men's National Selection Committee members. According to the Times of India report, all the 15 Indian cricketers are likely to get INR 3 crore each.

BCCI also takes another key decision on ICC Champions Trophy 2025 winning prize money

Moreover, the TOI report added that the BCCI decided to share the entire prize money for winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, US$ 2.24 million or INR 20 crore, among the Team India players.

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India just won their second ICC title by lifting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title after winning all the five matches in the tournament. Popular Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle, known as "Voice of Cricket", recently opened up why Rohit Sharma is one of the greatest Indian white-ball captains. 

In the last three ICC tournaments, Rohit Sharma-led India won 23 out of 24 games. While they finished as the runners-up of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 as the hosts, where they lost only the Final against Australia, the Men in Blue won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by winning all the matches. 

See Also: Ricky Ponting Backs Rohit Sharma for ODI World Cup Glory

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Rohit Sharma won the Player of the Match award

One of the major reasons for India's success in the recent ICC tournaments is skipper Rohit Sharma's powerful aggressive batting, which provides a strong start for the Men in Blue. While his batting is totally risk or reward status, it has majorly worked for India. During the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, although skipper Rohit Sharma majorly struggled to perform well after getting good starts of 20s, he had the major role to beat New Zealand in the Final.

Chasing down the challenging target of 252 runs in Dubai, captain Rohit Sharma fired up the opposition bowlers in the first powerplay. Sharma completed his half-century in 41 balls and scored 76 off 83 balls with seven fours and three sixes. Although the Blackcaps bowlers fought bravely after the first powerplay, Rohit's powerful start helped India never go behind in the tricky chase and won by four wickets with six balls to spare. There was no doubt why the Indian captain won the Player of the Match award in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final.

Rohit wanted India to play a certain brand of cricket: Harsha Bhogle

In a recent viral video on social media, Harsha Bhogle opened up his view on the captain Rohit Sharma. Despite not having the nature of wild aggressive batting, skipper Rohit Sharma wants to set a strong brand of cricket. 

The voice of cricket said, "Rohit Sharma is doing something remarkable and he must now go down as one of India's great white ball captains. I spoke to him immediately after the match at the Player of the Match presentation and I asked him if the manner in which he was playing was normal to him, and he said, no, it didn't come naturally to him but he wanted India to play a certain brand of cricket and so he thought he must play that too. Sometimes predetermined, sometimes high-risk, sometimes get out early, but that is the brand of cricket he wanted to play. High-impact cricket and when the captain shows the way, then everybody follows, and this is as good a cast as I have ever seen."  

Voice of cricket Harsha Bhogle speaking on the innings of Captain Rohit Sharma in Champions trophy final 🫰🫶 pic.twitter.com/wTDtGNHRrZ

— Immy|| 🇮🇳 (@TotallyImro45) March 13, 2025

India's team is warming up for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the event poised to be staged in South Africa in October. Ahead of the World Cup, India will prepare by hosting 24 ODIs in different series against powerful nations.

Why This Schedule Matters

• Experimenting With Different Combinations: Having many young players involved, the team management will find sufficient time to experiment with different combinations and find the right combination.
• Different Conditions: Playing against countries like Australia, South Africa, and England will give India good exposure to differing conditions of play.
• Picking Up Momentum: Performing well in these bilateral series will raise the team morale prior to the World Cup.
• Identifying Key Players: These periods will be defining for veterans to find their place and for the young guns to find a place in the 50-over game.

India's Future ODI Series:

• 3 ODIs vs Bangladesh
• 3 ODIs vs Australia
• 3 ODIs vs South Africa
• 3 ODIs vs Afghanistan
• 3 ODIs vs England
• 3 ODIs vs West Indies
• 3 ODIs vs New Zealand
• 3 ODIs vs Sri Lanka

These fixtures will enable India to experiment with different combinations, strengthen their team, and build momentum before the World Cup. With stiff competition from the world's best teams, India will seek to refine their strategies and form a winning team for the tournament.

ALSO SEE: The Impact of Indian Cricket: Lord’s Faces 4 Million Loss as India Misses WTC 2025 Final

The Road Ahead

Since South Africa is hosting the 2027 ODI World Cup, India will have to adapt to the conditions. Seam-friendly tracks, bouncy pitches, and unpredictable weather are going to be the tasks that India will have to acclimatize to. The series ahead will give players the experience and form patterns to thrive in those conditions.

As the World Cup 2027 countdown begins, everyone's eyes are going to fall on Team India's preparation. Are they going to form a team strong enough to take the trophy home here? The journey has begun, and every single match is going to play a deciding role in the destiny of Indian cricket

Gautam Gambhir has never been short of courage in his cricketing style, be it as a player or as a coach today. His recent choices have gone a long way in determining India's strategy for the Champions Trophy 2025. Some of the daring steps he took and left an impact are listed below.

Axar Patel at Number 5

Axar Patel is primarily viewed as an all-rounder, but Gambhir made a big call in advancing him to number five. It provided India with additional batting depth and allowed Axar to deliver game-changing middle-order performances. His pressure-holding skills and ability to rotate the strike have brought stability to the batting lineup.

Supporting KL Rahul Instead of Rishabh Pant

The KL Rahul-Rishabh Pant debate had been going on, but Gambhir decided to stand by Rahul. His experience under pressure and the calmness during critical moments presented him as the go-to person. Though Pant is an explosive hitter, Gambhir's decision to rely on Rahul meant steady hands in the middle order.

ALSO SEE: Is This Indian team is truly an all time great ?

Choosing Varun Chakravarthy in the Squad

Varun Chakravarthy's mystery spin is a weapon against top teams, and Gambhir understood its worth. Having him in the team provided India with an unpredictable advantage in the bowling unit, making the attack more varied and deadly.

Gambhir's moves speak volumes about his cricketing brain and his capability to take calculated risks. As India prepares for the Champions Trophy 2025, these moves could be a massive contributor to their success.

The 15-day tournament ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finally ended in a thriller where India defeated New Zealand in the Final in Dubai to create history by becoming the first team to lift the trophy thrice. 

Pakistan hosted the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, which makes a return after eight years. Apart from the hosts Pakistan, who also started the tournament as the defending champions, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan participated in the tournament. 

Except India, all other seven teams, including the hosts Pakistan played in Pakistan, while the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates hosted all Indian games. While Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore could host the Final if India failed to qualify, India's qualification to the Final denied that.

On Sunday, March 9, 2025, India faced New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final. After New Zealand chose to bat first, they scored 251/7 in 50 overs. In reply, India chased down the target in 49 overs after losing six wickets and lifted the trophy after 12 years. After winning the ICC Champions Trophy in the 2002 (co-winners with the hosts Sri Lanka) and 2013 editions, India became the first team to lift the ICC Champions Trophy for the third time. 

Also Watch: People Across India Celebrate Champions Trophy 2025 Victory in Grand Style

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Tournament Awards

Player of the Match in the Final: Rohit Sharma (India) - 76 runs

Player of the Tournament: Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) - 263 runs and 3 wickets

Champions: India (3rd title)

Runners-up: New Zealand

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Prize Money Details (Total Tournament Prize Money for Teams USD 6.9 million)

Champions: India - USD 2.24 million

Runners-up: New Zealand - USD 1.12 million

Semi-finalists: Australia and South Africa - USD 560,000 for each team

5th and 6th places: Afghanistan and Bangladesh - USD 350,000 for each team

7th and 8th places: Pakistan and England - USD 140,000 for each team

Each win in the group stage: USD 34,000

Participation prize money: USD 125,000 for each team

India won the Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand by four wickets at the Dubai International Stadium. India became the first team to have three Champions Trophy titles and Rohit Sharma's second ICC trophy as captain in a row.

New Zealand batted first and scored 251 runs, with Daryl Mitchell (50) and Michael Bracewell (53*) contributing the most. Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav each took two wickets for India.

In reply, Rohit Sharma stabilized the chase with a masterly 76 from 83 deliveries. Losing wickets at critical junctures, India remained on course courtesy of crucial runs from Shreyas Iyer (48) and KL Rahul (34*). Ravindra Jadeja finished the victory with the winning runs, sending the Indian camp into celebrations.

ALSO SEE: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Celebrate India’s Champions Trophy Win with Dandiya

THE CELEBRATIONS OF RAVINDRA JADEJA AFTER FINISHING THE MATCH. pic.twitter.com/p0AYKmuTEY

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 9, 2025

THE MOMENTS TEAM INDIA WON CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025...!!!! 🇮🇳

- VIDEO OF THE DAY. 🏆pic.twitter.com/bDwSHWRDiO

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 9, 2025

Gautam Gambhir hugging KL Rahul.

- KL played a vital knock in the CT Final for India. ❤️🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/MDbgy962Pf

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 9, 2025

🚨TEAM INDIA HAVE WON THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY AFTER 12 YEARS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/R0tU9UDzxz

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 9, 2025

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing Dandiya with the stumps. 🤣❤️ pic.twitter.com/I1utuReQp2

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 9, 2025

Jadeja, Arshdeep and Harshit doing the Gangnam Style. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MfTun6h6dh

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 9, 2025

It was a moment of redemption for India following their 2023 World Cup final despair, a historic Indian cricket night.

Rohit Sharma-led India set new ICC Champions Trophy record by becoming the first team to win the trophy for the third time after beating New Zealand in the tense Final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. It was the seventh ICC title for the India men's national cricket team.

After winning the toss, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner chose to bat first. While New Zealand scored 251/7 in 50 overs, India chased down the target in 49 overs after losing six wickets. 

See Also: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Celebrate India’s Champions Trophy Win with Dandiya

Indian spinners controlled New Zealand innings

New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra provided a firing start as he had a 57-run opening partnership with Will Young. Although India dropped dangerous Rachin twice, Indian spinners provided a superb comeback. Indian spinners took three quick wickets as Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Young for 15 runs, while Kuldeep Yadav started the game with a wicket of Rachin Ravindra on the first delivery of the second powerplay. Also, the former Blackcaps skipper Kane Williamson was caught and bowled by Kuldeep in his second over for 11 runs. 

In the second powerplay, New Zealand never reached 40 runs in each of three 10-over slots. It ultimately proved the game-changer as New Zealand tried hard but never had strong hands in the game.

Despite facing 101 balls, Daryl Mitchell struggled and managed to score 63 runs with the help of three fours. While Glenn Phillips scored valuable 34 runs off 52 balls (two fours and one six), Michael Bracewell's 53 not out off 40 balls (three fours and two sixes) helped the Blackcaps to reach the 250-run mark. 

All the Indian spinners bowled really well. Varun Chakravarthy (2/45) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/40) bagged two wickets each, and Ravindra Jadeja had one (1/30) wicket while another disciplined spinner Axar Patel (0/29) didn't take any wickets in his eight overs. Among the pacers, Mohammad Shami got a wicket (1/74), while Hardik Pandya was expensive in his three overs (0/30).

Look Also: Rohit Sharma’s special insane stats you didn’t know about

Indian middle-order batters handled professionally after Rohit Sharma's flying start

Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a powerful start. While Gill was dropped by Daryl Mitchell at the midwicket, the openers had a 105-run partnership for the first wicket. Skipper Rohit Sharma had a flying start and completed his half-century in 41 balls. New Zealand spinners slowly made a comeback into the game after Glenn Phillips took a stunner to dismiss Gill for 31 off 50 balls. 

In the very next over, Michael Bracewell started with a wicket of Virat Kohli, who just scored one run off two balls. Struggling to score runs against Blackcaps spinners, skipper Rohit Sharma was stumped out for 76 off 83 balls, where the right-handed batter hit seven fours and three sixes. 

India were under pressure for losing three wickets in 17 runs. However, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel handled the situation really well as they had a 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Iyer, who was dropped by Kyle Jamieson in the long on, was ultimately dismissed for 48 off 62 balls (two fours and two sixes).

While Patel was out after scoring 29 runs off 40 balls, KL Rahul once again comfortably moved India out from the tough situation, and Hardik Pandya produced a 38-run sixth wicket partnership to take away the game from the Blackcaps. Pandya scored run-a-ball 18, while Rahul scored brilliant 34 not out off 33 balls, and Ravindra Jadeja finished the game with a four (9*). 

New Zealand spinners were equally brilliant as Mitchell Santner (2/46), Rachin Ravindra (1/47), and Michael Bracewell (2/28) fought hard, but they required a few more runs, especially after Rohit Sharma's powerful batting. 

While the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the Player of the Match award, Blackcaps' all-rounder Rachin Ravindra won the Player of the Tournament award.