The highly anticipated five-match Test series between India and England has commenced at Headingley in Leeds, marking the start of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. This series is particularly significant as it marks a transition period for the Indian team, with Shubman Gill taking over as captain and Rishabh Pant as vice-captain following the Test retirements of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. This series is also the first for India under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During the pre-match press conference, Shubman Gill was asked by an English journalist if his captaincy style would be inspired by England's aggressive "Bazball" approach. Gill responded with a witty remark, "You're going to have to wait till August to see what kind of style it's going to be," which drew laughter from the reporters. Gill acknowledged England's exciting brand of cricket but remained tight-lipped about India's specific strategy. He emphasized the importance of taking 20 wickets to win Test matches, highlighting that the bowlers will play a crucial role.
India's squad features a blend of experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja, alongside fresh faces such as Karun Nair, who makes a comeback after eight years, and B Sai Sudharsan. India has also added pacer Harshit Rana to the squad from the 'A' squad. The team is aiming to end their 18-year Test series winless streak on English soil, with their last series win in England coming in 2007 under Rahul Dravid's leadership.
England, led by Ben Stokes, have already announced their playing XI for the first Test. Their squad includes experienced players like Joe Root and Chris Woakes, as well as younger talents like Jamie Smith. England will be looking to start the series strongly and maintain their dominance at home.
Sachin Tendulkar has predicted a 3-1 series win for India, highlighting Jasprit Bumrah as India's key strike bowler. The series promises a competitive contest between bat and ball. The first day of the first Test saw India reach 215/2 at tea, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a century and Shubman Gill contributing significantly. However, Sai Sudharsan was dismissed for a duck on his debut.
The series schedule is as follows:
The series will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network and live-streamed on the JioStar app and website in India.
