Shubman Gill’s captaincy debut faces tough English weather; overcast skies and rain loom over five-match Test series opener
June 20, 2025 | Rain might just be the first real opponent as Team India kicks off their five-Test series against England at Headingley, Leeds, starting Friday, June 20. With newly appointed captain Shubman Gill leading a refreshed Indian lineup, the focus was expected to be on strategy and individual battles—but the unpredictable English weather might dictate the course of the match instead.
Also Read: Rohit, Virat, Ashwin Retirements Signal Test Transition, Says Sachin Tendulkar
🌦️ Weather Forecast: Rain On the Cards
According to AccuWeather, the first and fifth days of the match are expected to remain mostly clear. However:
- Day 2 (June 21) and Day 3 may see an hour of morning rain, possibly delaying play.
- Day 3 evening and Day 4 are forecasted to experience light drizzle, which might affect the outfield and playing conditions heading into the final stages.
- Overcast skies are expected throughout the match, providing ample assistance to seamers and complicating life for batters.
👨✈️ Shubman Gill’s First Test As Captain
- The 25-year-old star batter Shubman Gill will lead India for the first time in Test cricket.
- Gill has prior experience in England, with a short but successful county stint for Glamorgan in 2022, where he scored 244 runs in 4 innings at an average of 61, including a century (119).
🔍 Selection Dilemma: India May Opt for 4 Pacers
Given the seam-friendly conditions, India may field four fast bowlers, reducing spin options to a single choice between Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, or Kuldeep Yadav.
🔢 India’s Players With County Experience
Several players in the squad bring valuable English county exposure:
- Sai Sudharsan (Surrey) – 281 runs in 8 innings at 35.12, top score 105
- Karun Nair (Northamptonshire) – 736 runs in 14 innings at 56.61, including a 202*
- Washington Sundar (Lancashire) – 8 wickets in 2 matches, best 5/76
- Arshdeep Singh (Kent) – 13 wickets in 5 matches, best 3/58
🏏 Key Takeaway
With weather and pitch conditions expected to favor swing and seam, both teams will need to stay flexible. The impact of rain interruptions, especially on Days 2 and 3, could swing the momentum either way in what promises to be an unpredictable series opener.
🏷️ Tags:
India vs England Test, Headingley Test 2025, Shubman Gill Captaincy, Rain Forecast Headingley, India Playing XI, County Cricket, IND vs ENG Test Series
📢 Hashtags:
#INDvsENG #HeadingleyTest #ShubmanGill #IndiaCricket #TestCricket #RainAlert #CricketWeather #CountyStars #TeamIndia #WTC2025