IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: A lot will ride on captain Shubman Gill.
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: The clouds have cleared, the sun is out, and Headingley stands ready to kick off what promises to be a feisty five-Test series between England and a new-look Indian side. India arrive without two of their biggest modern icons in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who both retired from the format last month. For the first time in a decade, India’s XI will not feature either name. That alone makes this series significant. But what raises the intrigue further is the appointment of 25-year-old Shubman Gill as captain, a bold call by the new regime led by Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar.…Read More
Gill’s Test numbers, 1893 runs in 32 matches at 35.06, don’t scream authority yet. But leadership is about more than stats, and India will hope that Gill’s experience from his Gujarat Titans captaincy stint over the past two years translates into steel in England’s challenging conditions. It won’t be the first time Gill will captain the senior team, though; he previously led the T20I team during its tour of Zimbabwe last year.
The first Test is being played on a dry Headingley pitch. While not your usual English green-top, it’s still a surface that will aid movement, especially in the first session. That could work to India’s advantage, particularly with the firepower of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj up front. Bumrah, however, is expected to feature in only three of the five Tests, his workload being managed carefully.
England, for their part, have gone with a predictable XI. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett at the top, followed by Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook. Jamie Smith keeps the gloves, while captain Ben Stokes slots in at six. The bowling attack comprises Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir, competent, but not the sort of line-up that will strike fear like Anderson and Broad once did.
India’s XI remains unconfirmed, though strong indications suggest Karun Nair is set for a return, potentially at No.3. Rishabh Pant confirmed a day before the Test that he will bat at four, while the wicketkeeper-batter will continue at five. The No.6 position is up for grabs; will India back debutant Sai Sudharsan, or opt for an extra all-rounder like Nitish Reddy or Shardul Thakur?
Then there’s the spin conundrum. Ravindra Jadeja’s batting utility makes him a tempting pick, but Kuldeep Yadav’s ability to turn the ball on any surface might give him the edge. Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep remain in contention for the third seamer’s spot, all three bringing different styles to the table.
Gautam Gambhir, known for his aggressive mindset and no-nonsense decisions, has a lot riding on this series. His first Test season as India’s head coach didn’t go according to plan, with India facing an unprecedented 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand before facing a 3-1 defeat to Australia Down Under. Before Gambhir, India had looked set to book a place in a third successive World Test Championship final, but the side eventually finished third on the points table. As India kick off a new cycle in the WTC – with a new captain at the helm, too – Gambhir will look for a much-improved performance.
The two captains will appear for the toss at 3 PM IST, with the play beginning thirty minutes later.
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June 20, 2025 12:10 PM IST
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: England’s Playing XI is out
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: England captain Ben Stokes has stuck with their tradition of revealing the Playing XI on match eve. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett return as openers, followed by Ollie Pope and the immovable Joe Root at No. 3 and 4, respectively. Harry Brook, talked about as one of the next big things in world cricket, preferably a contender for the Next Fab Four, takes his place at five. At No. 6 is the skipper himself, Stokes, who would be eyeing revenge for India’s 4-1 drubbing of England last year. Jamie Smith is the wicketkeeper before we head into the bowling line-up. The returning Chris Woakes provides experience to an otherwise young-looking fast bowling line-up – Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. Shoaib Bashir is the lone spinner, unless Root can roll his arms over.
June 20, 2025 12:00 PM IST
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: Dawn of a new era for Team India
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: Old things always pave way for the new, and this adage cannot be any truer for the Indian cricket team. The old guard has gone – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin have retired – and a fresh bunch of youngsters have stepped in – Shubman Gill is the captain, and Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh have received their maiden Test call-ups. Indian cricket is in the middle of one of their most exciting transition phases, and that’s what makes this tour all the more fascinating. On paper, no one is giving India a chance, but if history has taught us anything, it is that India has its best opportunity. Who remembers India’s tour of Australia 2020-21, where, without the experienced pros, the team drew in Sydney and pulled off famous wins in Melbourne and the Gabba to script history? Yes, there’s no Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara, but India will be buoyed by the presence of Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul and the incomparable Jasprit Bumrah.
June 20, 2025 11:50 AM IST
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: When did India vs England become such a big deal?
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: Until the 1990s, India’s tour of England was looked at as just another overseas series, which the Indian team would surrender. Since Dilip Vengsarkar’s magical outing in 1986, India lost 0-1 in 1990 and 1996. But things changed, and changed drastically once the new millennium kicked in. Under Sourav Ganguly, a fresh-looking Team India matched England punch for punch and drew the series 1-1. In fact, it was at this very venue of Headingley that India beat England on their soil for the first time in 16 years, where the iconic trio of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly struck centuries and gave India an innings win. Prior to that, the Ganguly vs Andrew Flintoff feud fuelled the India vs England rivalry like never before. And here we are 23 years later, with a fresh chapter waiting to unfold.
June 20, 2025 11:40 AM IST
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: It doesn’t get bigger than India vs England
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: Today is just the second time this year that India will play a Test series. They began 2025 with the New Year’s Test against Australia in Sydney, which they lost, and eventually the series, but today marks a fresh start. The beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle. Old wounds are a thing of the past, and there’s no baggage. A part of the Indian team would still be licking their wounds, knowing how they screwed up their chances of playing a third consecutive World Test Championship final. But when it’s India vs England, there’s no scope for looking back. Over the last two decades, the India vs England series has become a bit of a big deal. Sure, for English fans, it may pale in comparison to the Ashes, but for the Indian contingent, it’s right up there after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
June 20, 2025 11:30 AM IST
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: Hello and Welcome! It’s IND vs ENG day
IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: Are you ready? No, no, no. I said… Are you ready? If you’re a WWE fan, you would be aware of this iconic catchphrase from the legendary faction D-Generation X. But even as an Indian cricket fan today, these lines stand so true. The Indian cricket team is back in action, for the first time since the Champions Trophy. And what better way to return to the international set-up than a Test series in England, a place where India have had their fair share of history. This is a country where India haven’t had too many success stories to show. In fact, only twice in the last 39 years has India actually won here in England. Will this time be the charm? Don’t worry. We got you covered. Let’s take you on a ride, we promise you will remember as we build up towards the first ball, in approximately 3.5 hours from now.
