The series marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle for both teams — one that comes with contrasting narratives. For India, it’s the dawn of a fresh era under 25-year-old Shubman Gill, who takes over the Test captaincy in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
For England, it’s another chance to showcase the effectiveness of their fearless ‘Bazball’ approach. The greenish tinge on the pitch, combined with the overhead sun, makes for a tantalising contest, especially for the pacers.
Historically, the Headingley surface has favoured seamers, and locals suggest it might carry 10–12 mm of grass. Despite the challenge, India famously won here in 2002 after bravely batting first — a decision that paid off with help from legends like Dravid, Tendulkar, and Ganguly. Today, India’s batting line-up looks youthful and untested. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will likely open, with Sai Sudharsan a probable debutant at No. 3.
Gill and Pant hold the middle order together, while Karun Nair’s form makes him a strong candidate at No. 6. The choice between all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Nitish Reddy adds another layer of selection intrigue. India’s biggest weapon, though, is its pace attack — spearheaded by the returning Jasprit Bumrah and supported by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
With England’s bowling lineup lacking the bite of past stalwarts like Anderson and Broad, this could be a rare occasion where India holds the edge in the pace department. As the teams prepare to lock horns, all eyes are on how India’s next generation handles England’s experienced batting and the pressure of one of Test cricket’s toughest assignments.
India Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav
England Squad: Ben Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes
IND vs ENG Test Series Schedule:
1st Test: England v India, 20-24 June 2025, Headingley, Leeds
2nd Test: England v India, 2-6 July 2025, Edgbaston, Birmingham
3rd Test: England v India, 10-14 July 2025, Lord’s, London
4th Test: England v India, 23-27 July 2025, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
5th Test: England v India, 31 July-4 August 2025, Kia Oval, London
