Indian Cricket Team Embarks on Historic England Tour: A New Era Begins
As the sun rose over Mumbai Airport on Friday, the Indian cricket team boarded their flight to England, signaling the dawn of a new era in Indian Test cricket. This five-match Test series, part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle, is not just a contest of skill but a defining moment for a team in transition, with Shubman Gill taking the reins as captain following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and R Ashwin from the longest format.
The series, scheduled between June and August 2025, will be played across iconic English venues: Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord’s (London), The Oval (London), and Old Trafford (Manchester). With passionate Indian fans expected to turn out in droves, particularly at Lord’s—often dubbed the Home of Cricket—the atmosphere promises to be electric.
India’s squad has a fresh look, blending youthful exuberance with seasoned talent. Under Gill’s leadership, players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has already shown immense promise, and Rishabh Pant, the dynamic vice-captain, are expected to anchor the batting. The pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and supported by rising stars like Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, will face a stern test against England’s batsmen on seamer-friendly pitches. Meanwhile, spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will look to exploit any turn offered by English conditions later in the series.
On the other side, England, led by Ben Stokes, have undergone a significant overhaul after their 4-1 defeat in India during the last bilateral series in 2024. With legendary pacer James Anderson now retired and key players like Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes, and Ollie Robinson omitted, the hosts have introduced fresh faces like Sam Cook and Jacob Bethell into their squad for the first Test at Headingley. Stalwarts Joe Root and Harry Brook will be crucial for England as they aim to turn the tables at home.
Adding to the intrigue, several Indian players arrived in England earlier to fine-tune their skills with the India A side, currently locked in a three-match unofficial Test series against the England Lions. The first match ended in a draw, while the second unofficial Test kicked off on Friday, June 6, at the County Ground in Northampton. These warm-up games are vital for players like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan to stake their claim for a spot in the main XI. The rest of the senior squad touched down in the UK on Friday, ready to adapt to the chilly and swing-friendly English conditions.
Historically, India have had a mixed record in England, with their last series win on English soil coming in 2021 under Virat Kohli’s captaincy—a memorable 2-1 triumph. However, England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum has revitalized their Test cricket, making this series a fascinating clash of styles. Can Gill’s young brigade rise to the occasion and carve their own legacy, or will England’s home advantage prove too strong?
As we look ahead to the first Test at Headingley, one thing is certain: this series is more than just a battle for WTC points. It’s about pride, transition, and the future of Indian cricket. Stay tuned for ball-by-ball updates, exclusive insights, and expert analysis as we bring you every moment of this blockbuster tour.
India’s Test Squad: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
England Squad for First Test: Ben Stokes (Durham, captain), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).