As India prepare for their much-anticipated Test tour of England, starting June 20, discussions around team selection are heating up, with Arshdeep Singh and Shreyas Iyer’s names emerging.
While their spots in the squad are yet to be confirmed, former Australian all-rounder and current Punjab Kings (PBKS) bowling coach James Hopes has made a compelling case for their inclusion, citing their unique skills as ideal for England.
With the selectors still deliberating, the duo’s potential to make a mark in the challenging Test arena is generating significant buzz.
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James Hopes Endorses Arshdeep Singh for England Test series
Arshdeep Singh, a talented left-arm pacer, has been a standout performer in limited-overs cricket. He has grabbed 99 wickets in 63 T20Is, the most by an Indian so far. He also played a massive role in India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.
Despite his limited red-ball experience, his adaptability and willingness to evolve have impressed coaches and analysts alike. He also has played in England as he represented Kent in the County Championship Division I in 2023 and took 13 wickets in eight innings.
Speaking exclusively to Times of India, Hopes lauded Arshdeep’s versatility and potential, stating that he is perfectly suited for the English conditions.
"I think he's (Arshdeep) perfectly suited for the English conditions. He can swing the ball both ways; he can bowl reverse-swing if that's required. He can bowl around the wicket as a left-armer (seamer) and still take it away from the right-hander," Hopes said as quoted to Times of India.
He further highlighted the ease of coaching of Arshdeep, sharing that the 24-year-old is always open to learning new things.
"Arshdeep is highly skilled and very coachable. He’s open to just trying subtle, new things. You find sometimes that guys with high skill, like he has, can be very happy in the spot they’re in. But he’s always wanting to expand and keeps asking, 'What if I hold the ball like this, is it a bit different?'"
Hopes also noted Arshdeep’s evolution this year, which has caught batters off guard. He is swinging the white-ball to a great extent in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) and has picked by 16 wickets in 12 innings so far in the season.
"The way he’s swinging the ball this year is a little bit different, which has caught some players by surprise. He’s still young. He’s got so much cricket left. When we get to the end of his career, we’ll talk about him as one of the most dominant bowlers of all time," Hopes mentioned.
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"Shreyas Iyer Should be Considered for India Test Squad", Says James Hopes
Turning to Shreyas Iyer, Hopes was equally optimistic about the batter’s prospects in the Test arena.
"Shreyas is ready to get back into the Test arena. He's worked hard on his game over the last 12 months. He uses his hands so beautifully, which can be a real asset when you're playing in England. Both Iyer and Arshdeep should be seriously considered for the India squad," Hopes opined.
Known for his elegant strokeplay and resilience, Iyer has been working diligently to cement his place in India’s Test squad. After a year of refining his technique and working on his weakness against the short-pitch deliveries, the 30-year-old is a candidate to replace Virat Kohli in the format.
He has done well in IPL 2025, leading PBKS from the front, having smashed 435 runs in 12 innings at an average of 48.33 and a strike-rate of 174.70.
Also read: India U-19 tour of England: Ayush Mhatre to lead, RR's Vaibhav Suryavanshi named in 16-member squad
