What could Be Team India’s strongest bowling attack for the 2025 England Tour?
With Team India looking to win a Test series in England after 18 long years, the composition of their pace attack will be critical. Conditions in the Bazball era have been unpredictable—ranging from spicy green tops to dry, slow pitches. To succeed in such varied situations, India need a balanced pace unit that offers swing, pace, control, and versatility.
Jasprit Bumrah, first name on the team-sheet
At the heart of this attack will be pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. The lynchpin of India’s bowling unit, Bumrah brings everything to the table—new ball accuracy, reverse swing, and the ability to take wickets on any surface. Though his record in England isn’t as dominant as elsewhere, an average of 26.27 and two five-wicket hauls speak volumes. His past battles with Joe Root and the rest of England’s top order give India the confidence that if Bumrah fires, the rest will fall into place.
Siraj could partner Bumrah
Supporting Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj could be the frontrunner. His ability to swing the new ball and attack the stumps makes him vital in English conditions. With an average of 26.20 in the first 20 overs of a Test innings in England, Siraj is second only to Bumrah among India bowlers. However, Siraj’s performance in last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy was not even average. He did not just struggle to take wickets, but failed to control the flow of runs as well. However, having bowled before in these conditions, Siraj’s inclusion also gives India a dependable right-arm partner to Bumrah who can maintain pressure and strike with the new ball.
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Left-arm options
The left-arm seamers bring a different flavour to the mix. Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Anshul Kamboj are all in contention. While Khaleel and Kamboj have impressed in domestic and India A tours, Arshdeep holds an edge due to his County Championship stint, which gave him valuable experience with the Dukes ball. Representing Kent, he picked up 13 wickets in 5 matches at an average of 41.76. Including a left-arm option could be crucial to challenge England’s predominantly right-handed top order.
Shami, Deep, or Mukesh for consistency?
In terms of control and consistency, Mohammed Shami would have been ideal, but fitness concerns might rule him out. Since his return to competitive cricket, he hasn’t bowled full throttle. It visibly seemed that he wasn’t the same Shami which he used to be. If unavailable, Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar stand ready as a like-for-like option. Both of them have shown great promise, Akash Deep particularly with his performances in Australia and Mukesh in Windies, and their ability to hit the deck hard and move the ball off the seam, will come in handy in English conditions.
Flat deck options: Krishna or Rana
For flat decks, where wickets don’t come easy, India will need hit-the-deck bowlers who can manufacture dismissals. Prasidh Krishna, with his bounce and pace, fits this role perfectly. His recent performances in IPL 2025 and on the Australian tour have made him a strong contender. Harshit Rana, though still inexperienced, has impressed the selectors and will be tested further during the England Lions series. His natural aggression and ability to get awkward bounce make him a wildcard pick.
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Thakur to add all-round strength
Shardul Thakur may come into the fray because of his ability to provide some cricial runs down the order. In the previous tour, Shardul had played a instrumental role in helping India level the series 2-2. He is coming off a great domestic season, scoring 505 runs in 12 innings at a staggering strike rate of 88.75 and taking 35 wickets that included a fifer.
Final words
In the end, much will depend on fitness and current form, but a core pace group of Bumrah, Siraj, Arshdeep or Khaleel, Prasidh Krishna, and one among Akash Deep or Harshit Rana could form a formidable unit. It’s no longer about just skill or speed—India need smart bowlers who can adapt session by session. In a summer where the batting order may see transition due to retirements, India’s hope of scripting history will rest heavily on the shoulders of their fast bowlers.
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