The much-anticipated Test series between England and India is all set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds, marking a new chapter in the rivalry between two of cricket’s strongest Test-playing nations. Scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM IST, this match will not only be significant due to the historic rivalry, but also because it marks the captaincy debut of Shubman Gill for India in the red-ball format.
Match Details
-
Fixture: England vs India, 1st Test
-
Date: June 20, 2025
-
Time: 3:30 PM IST
-
Venue: Headingley, Leeds
-
Live Telecast: Sony Sports Network (India), Sky Sports (UK)
-
Streaming: Sony LIV, JioTV (India); Sky Go (UK)
Team Overviews
England
Led by Ben Stokes, England enter the series as favourites due to their home advantage and red-ball form. They recently thrashed Zimbabwe in a one-off Test, showcasing both batting firepower and bowling depth. Joe Root, playing on his home ground, remains their batting lynchpin. The return of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue boosts their pace attack, while Shoaib Bashir continues to take charge as their frontline spinner.
England Probable XI:
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
India
For India, this series marks a transition phase. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, the responsibility now lies with the new generation. Shubman Gill leads a relatively inexperienced squad with many players yet to prove themselves in English conditions. Karun Nair makes his comeback and Rishabh Pant returns to the Test setup. The bowling attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to play a major role in swinging-friendly conditions.
India Probable XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna
Head-to-Head Record
England and India have clashed in 135 Test matches, with England winning 51 and India 35, while 49 matches have ended in a draw. In the last 10 matches played in England, the home team has a strong record with 6 wins and only 3 losses.
Key Players to Watch
-
Joe Root: Scored 979 runs in his last 10 Tests with 6 hundreds and 5 fifties. Expect him to anchor the English batting lineup.
-
Jasprit Bumrah: In prime form with 46 wickets in his last nine Tests at an average of 14.91. His battle with Root could be game-defining.
-
Karun Nair: Making a comeback to the Indian Test side, he’s fresh off a double century in a warm-up match.
-
Ben Stokes: England’s all-round talisman will be key with both bat and ball, especially in pressure situations.
Pitch & Weather Report
Headingley usually offers a fair balance between bat and ball. Early movement can be expected for the pacers, but the pitch tends to settle down. As per recent reports, this pitch might be slightly better for batting than usual. The average first innings score at this venue is 298.
The weather is mostly favourable, though some rain is expected on Day 2 (60% chance). Temperatures will hover between 25 to 32°C, with moderate humidity and strong winds, which could assist swing bowlers.
Match Scenarios & Toss Prediction
Historically, teams bat first in Test matches unless there’s heavy cloud cover or rain. Given the nature of the Headingley pitch and the five-day format, the captain winning the toss is likely to opt to bat first and put runs on the board.
Betting & Match Prediction
-
Joe Root to score 50+ runs – a high-probability bet considering his recent form and home-ground advantage.
-
Jasprit Bumrah to be top Indian bowler – with his rhythm and effectiveness in English conditions, Bumrah is a strong pick.
-
Karun Nair to score 27+ runs – given his recent form, this appears realistic.
Prediction:
England start as favourites with a 66% win probability due to their experience, depth, and home advantage. However, if India’s young guns click and Bumrah fires early, an upset could be on the cards.
Final Verdict
England hold the edge, but India’s exciting young lineup, backed by Bumrah and Jadeja, could provide stiff resistance. Expect a gripping contest to kick off what could be a memorable series.