Karun Nair last played for India in March 2017 © Getty
There will be no last-minute twists in India's squad for the upcoming tour of England and Shubman Gill, as expected, is all set to be named captain of the Indian red-ball side. The 25-year-old Punjab batter, vice-captain to Rohit Sharma in the ODIs, will lead the side in the five-Test away series against England in June-July. The announcement is expected on Saturday (May 24), when the national selection committee will meet in Mumbai.

Barring a couple of odd new names, the squad will comprise virtually the same names that toured Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November-January. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two seniors who recently announced retirement from the longest format of the game, will understandably be missing from the squad.

Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair, who have performed well in the last domestic season, are likely to be rewarded with berths. Cricbuzz understands that Nair, who had been a prolific scorer in the domestic circuit - 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy games with four centuries and 779 runs in eight Vijay Hazare Trophy innings with five centuries - could be picked in the squad.

The Vidarbha batter, who guided the state team to Ranji Trophy glory and second position in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, has already been included in the India A squad that will leave for England in a couple of days. He is expected to be co-opted into the senior side as well.

Sudharsan (23), currently the leading run-scorer in the IPL with 638 runs, is also expected to earn a place. Already named in the India A side for the second match against England Lions, he is widely tipped to be added to the senior squad as well. The left-handed batter from Tamil Nadu has been praised for his sound technique and calm temperament, including by no less a name than Jos Buttler, who commended Sudharsan for his ability, earnest preparation and work ethic.

Sudharsan, who has formed a successful opening partnership with Shubman Gill in the ongoing IPL, is, however, unlikely to open in England. It is understood that KL Rahul has been informally indicated by head coach Gautam Gambhir that he will be required to bat upfront. If that plan holds, Rahul is expected to partner Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, with Gill likely to move down to No. 4. That could open up the No. 3 slot for someone like Sudharsan or Nair.

There was some chatter that the selectors should look at Cheteswar Pujara (37) for a place in view of the absence of seniors like Rohit and Kohli. But the impression one gets is that the selectors and team management are in no mood to look back. There may be a scope for Sarfaraz Khan in the squad but Devdutt Padikkal, who was part of the BGT squad, is yet to be fully fit.

With Mohammed Shami ruled out, the pacers will be Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep and Harshit Rana, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar being the spinners, who also offer all-rounder skills. There may be a place for Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur too. The two wicketkeepers will be Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel, and the lone specialist spinner could be Kuldeep Yadav.

The likely squad, one or two names give and take, will include Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Sai Sudharsan, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rishabh Pant, Druv Jurel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.