June 20, 2025: A new chapter unfolds in Indian Test cricket as Shubman Gill walks out for his first Test as captain, leading a refreshed Indian squad against England at Headingley. England’s Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bowl first, banking on early movement on a dry yet responsive surface.
India, stepping into a post-Kohli and post-Rohit era, unveiled a mix of promise and nostalgia. Sai Sudharsan made his Test debut, receiving his cap from former No.3 stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara — a symbolic passing of the torch, especially since Sudharsan will bat in the same position.
Adding to the emotional weight of the day, Karun Nair has earned a long-awaited return to the Indian XI, making a comeback after eight years. India also brought back Shardul Thakur, adding depth to the pace department alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
The sun emerged just in time, setting the stage for an intense five-match series. For the first time in over a decade, neither Virat Kohli nor Rohit Sharma features in India’s Test line-up — a major turning point for the team and its fans. Gill, though still finding his footing statistically (1893 runs in 32 Tests at an average of 35.06), now carries the weight of expectations as leader, backed by his recent IPL leadership stint and brief T20I captaincy.
India’s playing XI, though largely under wraps until the toss, has now been partially revealed. Pant will bat at No. 4, while Sudharsan and Nair slot into key top-order positions. The No. 6 spot and spin combination were the main questions before play began, with options like Jadeja, Kuldeep, Nitish Reddy, and Shardul all in the reckoning.
England named a settled side, led by Stokes and featuring Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Harry Brook. Jamie Smith will keep wickets. Their bowling unit — Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir — is solid but lacks the fear factor once commanded by James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
The match takes place on a dry Headingley pitch — not a typical English green-top but one expected to offer seam early on before flattening out. India’s pace trio could benefit early, though Bumrah’s involvement is expected to be limited to three Tests due to workload management.
With Gautam Gambhir at the helm as head coach, India begins this new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle eager to rebound from a disappointing previous season that saw them miss out on a third straight WTC final.
Key Highlights:
- Sai Sudharsan debuts at No.3, receiving his cap from Cheteshwar Pujara.
- Shubman Gill begins his tenure as India’s Test captain.
- Karun Nair returns to the Test side after eight years.
- England win the toss and bowl first in sunny Leeds.
- India without Kohli and Rohit for the first time in over a decade.
- Stokes banks on early movement at Headingley, where he made history in 2019.
With the sun shining and fresh faces in the mix, all eyes are now on how this bold new Indian squad fares in one of cricket’s toughest challenges — a full-fledged Test series in England.