The highly anticipated first Test match between England and India is set to commence on June 20, 2025, at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds. This marks the beginning of a five-match series and the start of a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle (2025-2027) for both teams. Cricket fans are eager to know where and how they can catch all the live action.
In India, the broadcast rights for the England vs India Test series are held by the Sony Sports Network. The 1st Test match will be available on multiple TV channels, including Sony Sports Ten 1 (English), Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil & Telugu), and Sony Sports Ten 5.
For those who prefer to stream the matches online, the series will be available on JioHotstar. This allows fans to watch the match live on their mobile phones, laptops, or smart TVs. Some sources also mention Disney+ Hotstar as a streaming option.
The match is scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST). The toss will take place 30 minutes prior, at 3:00 PM IST. For viewers in the United Kingdom, the game will commence at 11:00 AM British Summer Time (BST). In the United States, due to the time difference, the match will begin at 6:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) or 3:00 AM Pacific Time (PT).
For fans in the United States and Canada, Willow TV will provide exclusive live coverage of the game. If Willow TV is not part of your cable package, it can be accessed through Fubo, which includes Willow TV in its sports offering. Fubo US offers a free trial for new subscribers.
It's worth noting that there are no officially advertised free streams for the Test match. However, in Australia, Kayo Sports is offering a 7-day free trial (or the first month for $1) to new subscribers, which could be an option for viewers in that region.
This series marks a significant moment for the Indian team, as Shubman Gill leads the side for the first time in Tests, taking over the captaincy after the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. Gill, at just 25 years old, faces a challenging task of rebuilding the team while maintaining the standards set by his predecessors. The team also sees the return of Karun Nair, adding depth to the batting lineup, and potential debuts for Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran.
The England team, led by Ben Stokes, is well aware of India's transitional phase but won't underestimate the visitors. With experienced players like Joe Root and Harry Brook in their batting lineup, England aims to capitalize on the early advantage in the series.
This Test series also marks the beginning of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle for both India and England, adding further significance to each match. Cricket enthusiasts can anticipate an exciting series filled with fierce competition and emerging talent.
