England and India are preparing to clash in the first Test match of the five-match series, beginning on June 20 in Leeds. The series carries immense significance for India as it marks a fresh chapter in their red-ball cricket journey, with young star Shubman Gill set to lead the team for the first time.
This high-voltage series also signals the beginning of a new era for Team India that will take the field without two of their most decorated cricketers — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — both of whom have recently retired from the Test format. Their absence leaves a considerable leadership and experience vacuum, and Gill will be under the spotlight to guide a relatively young side against a battle-hardened England team.
Gill was named India’s Test skipper ahead of the England series following Rohit Sharma’s decision to call time on his Test career in May. Meanwhile, facing England in their own backyard is one of the toughest assignments for India. However, India will be keen to assert their dominance from the very first ball. On the other hand, England, with a near full-strength squad, will look to dominate the young Indian side from the very beginning. England have already announced their playing XI that features the likes of Joe Root, skipper Ben Stokes, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook.
Head-to-head
Matches - 136
IND won - 35
ENG won - 51
Drawn - 50
England XI: Ben Stokes (C), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
India probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna