June 20, 2025: Team India is set to kick off its new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a five-match Test series against England, starting today on English soil. The series marks a significant phase for India’s Test team as it navigates a transitional era following the retirements of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
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India’s Test record in England is a mixed bag, with just three series wins in 1971, 1986, and 2007. The most recent series in 2021-22 ended in a 2-2 draw, underscoring the competitiveness of the contest.
Leading the side for the first time is young captain Shubman Gill, supported by wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant as his deputy. Pant’s aggressive batting style has drawn both admiration and criticism, especially concerning his tendency to take undue risks in crucial moments.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has weighed in with advice for Pant, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach. “He [Pant] should back his instincts most of the time,” Tendulkar said, “but there’ll be situations where he’ll have to curb his game in the interests of the team.”
Tendulkar added, “If I’m the captain, I would tell him, ‘Just go out and play your game, why worry about anything.’ But when the team needs to save the game, the approach has to change. He’ll have to take a defensive approach, focusing on shot selection and reducing risky shots for periods when the match situation demands it.”
Pant will continue batting at number five, with his leadership role adding fresh expectations on his temperament and decision-making. As India embarks on this challenging series, all eyes will be on the young leaders to see if they can steer the team to success in England’s testing conditions.