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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

🌦️ 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

👨‍✈️ 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

🔍 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