England-India 1st Test- Weather Update: Overcast Skies, Rain Threat

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

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🌦️ 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.

Also Read: “You Can’t Win Without 20 Wickets”: Shubman Gill Emphasizes Bowling Firepower Ahead of England Test Series

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👨‍✈️ 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).

Also Read: “Bumrah Is Going to Be a Threat”: Ben Stokes Sounds Caution Ahead of Leeds Test Against India

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🔍 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.

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🔢 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

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🏏 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.

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🏷️ Tags:

India vs England Test, Headingley Test 2025, Shubman Gill Captaincy, Rain Forecast Headingley, India Playing XI, County Cricket, IND vs ENG Test Series

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#INDvsENG #HeadingleyTest #ShubmanGill #IndiaCricket #TestCricket #RainAlert #CricketWeather #CountyStars #TeamIndia #WTC2025