India’s next big international assignment will be their five-Test series against England in England, that will kickstart their 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. India finished third in the recent WTC table and failed to qualify for the final of the WTC 2025.

One of the biggest challenges for India in the last WTC cycle was the availability of key pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami, while Mohammed Siraj battled with poor form in the Australia Test series.

Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah have both had injury setbacks. Siraj has now made a great recovery in the ongoing IPL, taking 12 wickets in eight matches, indicating that he is back to his best, while Bumrah and Shami have also recovered from injuries.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri believes the trio will play an important role in England.

“I think with Siraj, Jasprit and Mohammed Shami, these three, if they are fully fit, they will give England heaps of problems. It's a quality, top-class pace attack when you get these three fit. And what I like about Siraj, I'm glad he was hurt after being put out, not on the side for the Champions Trophy. That's what you want.

For him to go back to the drawing board and come back the way he has, there's a spring in his stride, the pace is up there, and he means business game after game. And that is perfect from India's point of view with England coming up,” Shastri said on ICC Review.

Bumrah, too, appears to have rediscovered his rhythm in the IPL following an injury that sidelined him during the final match of the Border-Gavaskar series and kept him out of the Champions Trophy.

Shastri did, however, highlight the importance of managing Bumrah's workload during India's visit to England.

“I would be very, very careful [with Bumrah]. I would give him two Test matches at a time and then wait for the break. Ideally, make him play four. You'll be tempted to make him play five if he starts off in a great manner, but it's how his body pulls up. He should be given the first opportunity to say, ‘Yes, a little, [I am] feeling the niggle. A break would help.’ Give him that break,” he added.

Shami returned to international cricket for India in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, after missing the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final due to a knee injury.

His absence was especially obvious during the Border-Gavaskar series, when India lacked a second senior bowler to split the workload with Bumrah.

Shami has not played red-ball cricket for India since the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final against Australia.

“You'll have to see how he's bowling in the nets, but I think there's enough experience there for him to start off. The fact that he puts his hand up and says, ‘I'm available for that first Test match’ means he knows his fitness levels.

He's a workhorse. I've known Shami for a long time. If he puts his mind to it, he'll get there. And the fact that there's Siraj and Jasprit is doing as well as they are, that is just the motivation he needs to step up and get to that level,” Shastri signed off.

England and India will play the first of five Tests at Headingley in Leeds on June 20, followed by Tests at Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford, and The Oval.

(ICC inputs)