India-England First Test: Possible XIs and Other Key Updates

India vs England Test series starts today, June 20, and fans are buzzing. It’s not just another Test match though — it’s the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle for 2025-27, for both the teams. The match is being played at Headingley, Leeds — a ground where we’ve seen some pretty wild cricket over the years.

But this time, the teams will look very different. Some of the biggest names from both sides won’t be playing. In the Indian team, Rohit and Virat Ashwin have retired. England will also miss their pace duo— James Anderson and Stuart Broad. It will be a fresh start for both teams and fans will be curious to see how the new faces perform in this match.

This is the first match of Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, named after two greats who left a massive impact on the game. So there’s a bit of history being made here too.

Match Overview

The game kicks off at 3:30 PM IST today, and the toss will happen at 3:00 PM. It’ll run till June 24 unless someone wraps things up earlier. England will be led by Ben Stokes, while India will have a new leader in Shubman Gill — this is his first proper series as Test captain.

Indian Team

India is entering a new phase in their test journey. After the retirement of Rohit and Virat, the team is reshuffling the top and middle order. The opening might be done by Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Sai Sudharsan, after his good run in the IPL and domestic circuit, is expected to make his test debut and come one down. Gill, who now has more responsibility on his shoulders, may bat at No. 3 or 4 — possibly Virat’s old position.

Pant is expected to make a comeback as the wicketkeeper and X-factor middle-order batter. Karun Nair, who has been consistent in the domestic games, is likely to be in the XI too. For the all-rounder slots, Jadeja and Shardul Thakur could make the cut. In the pace bowling department, Bumrah will lead the attack, with Siraj and Prasidh Krishna expected to share the duties.

India’s Possible Playing XI:

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. KL Rahul
3. Sai Sudharsan
4. Shubman Gill (C)
5. Rishabh Pant (WK)
6. Karun Nair
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Shardul Thakur
9. Mohammed Siraj
10. Jasprit Bumrah
11. Prasidh Krishna.

Know the Complete Schedule of India-England Test Series

England Team

England has already announced their playing eleven, and there are no big surprises there. Zak Crawley will open with Ben Duckett. Ollie Pope is set to come one down, followed by the experienced Joe Root and the young Harry Brook in the middle order. Captain Ben Stokes will add more strength to the batting and bring in his all-round capabilities.

Jamie Smith will be the wicketkeeper. England’s bowling will be handled by Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir — a mix of seam and spin, keeping Headingley’s pitch in mind.

England’s Announced XI:

1. Zak Crawley
2. Ben Duckett
3. Ollie Pope
4. ⁠Joe Root
5. Harry Brook
6. Ben Stokes (C)
7. Jamie Smith (WK)
8. Chris Woakes
9. Brydon Carse
10. Josh Tongue
11. Shoaib Bashir

Pitch and Weather Conditions

The Headingley pitch is expected to offer something for everyone. On Day 1, bowlers might get good movement due to the dryness and overhead clouds. Swing and seam will be key early on. However, from Day 2 onwards, the pitch is expected to settle and help the batters more.

As for the weather, there are chances of rain on Day 2 and 3. Day 1 might have clouds but no major rain prediction. Temperatures are expected to be comfortable — around 28 to 30 degrees Celsius during the day.

Head-to-Head Record

This is one area where India hasn’t had much to smile about, especially in England. Out of the 136 test matches played between the two sides, England has won 51, while India has managed to win 35. The rest — 50 games — have ended in a draw.

In England itself, things look even tougher. India has only won 9 matches while losing 36. And it’s been 18 long years since India last won a test series in England. This adds a bit of pressure on Shubman Gill, who will be keen to rewrite history and bring a fresh chapter to Indian cricket.

Conclusion

With so many big names retired and several new faces stepping in, this match will not only set the tone for the series but also tell us a lot about the future of both the teams. Whether it’s the young Indian lineup or the slightly more experienced English side — both have something to prove. The stage is set. The teams are ready. All eyes are now on Headingley as we step into a new test season, and perhaps, a new era.