Leeds: India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill will lead a young and evolving side into a stern trial by fire as the test series gets underway against England at Leeds on Friday, marking the start of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle for both teams.
Gill’s first assignment as skipper comes against a confident England outfit helmed by Ben Stokes, whose team has embraced the aggressive ‘Bazball’ style in recent years.
England begin the series as firm favourites on home soil, particularly at Headingley, where they have won 34 out of 81 Tests. The venue is known to favour teams batting second, adding weight to the toss.
India’s young squad, full of potential but short on recent experience in English conditions, will depend heavily on its pace unit to make inroads. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj lead the attack, with Prasidh Krishna or Akash Deep in the mix to provide bounce and seam movement. All-rounders Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja offer depth and variety.
At the top, Yashasvi Jaiswal — who amassed over 700 runs in the recent home series against England — is expected to open alongside either KL Rahul or skipper Shubman Gill in an effort to blunt the new ball.
However, the team management may weigh conditions before finalising the combination, with Abhimanyu Easwaran and the in-form Sai Sudharsan also in contention as part of a horses-for-courses approach.
Karun Nair returns after a strong County campaign, while the middle-order responsibility lies with Rishabh Pant, whose match-turning ability is as thrilling as it is unpredictable.
England, starting a new WTC cycle, appear well settled. Joe Root, who has scored 1574 runs in 15 home Tests against India at an average nearing 75, remains the key figure in the batting order. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett are expected to provide rapid starts, while Harry Brook and Ollie Pope solidify the middle.
The English attack includes experienced Chris Woakes, with Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue offering fresh pace options. Spinner Shoaib Bashir, in good form, is likely to play a holding role on a surface that may later assist turn.
Forecasts suggest overcast conditions for the first two days — favourable for seamers — followed by brighter weather, aiding batsmen on Days 3 and 4. Headingley typically sees an average first-innings score of around 304, and batting first may prove risky unless the new ball is negotiated well.
Having lost four of their six Tests at Headingley, India will need to defy history and conditions alike to make a strong start.
With pride, history, and vital WTC points at stake, the Test series promises a gripping contest between two giants of the game.
