The first Test between England and India concluded at Headingley, Leeds, on June 24, 2025, with England securing a thrilling victory by 5 wickets after a monumental chase. This marks a challenging start to Shubman Gill's tenure as India's Test captain, having been appointed to the role just before the series.
England's victory was anchored by a spectacular batting performance, demonstrating their aggressive "Bazball" approach. Ben Duckett's explosive 149 off 170 balls set the tone, while Joe Root provided stability with a solid half-century, guiding England to their target of 371. Zak Crawley also contributed with a crucial 65, forming a formidable opening partnership with Duckett.
India had set a competitive target, boosted by strong performances from their batsmen in both innings. KL Rahul's century and Rishabh Pant's twin centuries put India in a commanding position. However, their bowling attack, despite Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance in the first innings, couldn't maintain consistent pressure to contain England's aggressive batting.
Shubman Gill's captaincy debut coincided with this challenging Test, adding pressure on the young leader. While Gill had a memorable debut with a brilliant 147 in the first innings, his team could not capitalize on the advantage. Gill's appointment as captain came after Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket, making him the 37th Test captain for India. At 25 years old, he is seen as a fresh face to lead the team in this new World Test Championship cycle.
The match saw several dramatic moments. Shardul Thakur's double blow, dismissing Ben Duckett and Harry Brook, briefly raised India's hopes. However, Root's composed presence ensured England remained on course. The defeat is only the second time India has lost a Test match while defending a 350-plus total in the fourth innings, with both instances against England.
The victory puts England 1-0 up in the five-match series. The next Test is scheduled to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston, where India will be keen to bounce back and level the series. The pressure is now on Gill and his team to regroup and strategize against England's aggressive approach.
With the series poised intriguingly, cricket fans anticipate how Gill will rally his team and what adjustments India will make to counter England's formidable batting lineup in the upcoming matches.
