India vs England Test Series 2025: Team India is all set to kick off the 2025 Test Series against England, with the first match starting today, June 20, at Headingley, Leeds. The action begins at 3:30 PM IST, as Shubman Gill leads India into the contest, looking to carry forward the team’s strong form and impressive record in red-ball cricket. All eyes will be on England’s veteran batter Joe Root and rising star Harry Brook, who have combined for nearly 1,000 runs across the team’s last 10 matches. Root has featured in over 150 Tests and brings a wealth of experience, while Brook boasts an impressive strike rate of 88.9. Meanwhile, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, who topped the batting charts during the Australia tour, and spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, the second highest wicket-taker in the 2023–25 WTC cycle, are expected to play pivotal roles.
ENG vs IND 1st Test: Pitch report
The first match of the England vs India Test Series will be played on Headingley’s traditionally challenging pitch. The green-seamer surface tends to flatten out gradually, making early breakthroughs crucial. Since 2010, teams choosing to bowl first have found success, and this trend may continue in the opening Test.
ENG vs IND 1st Test: Leeds weather report
Leeds is experiencing warmer and drier conditions than usual, making the surface more prone to cracking as the match progresses. According to AccuWeather, Day 1 of the Test is expected to be largely sunny and dry.
ENG vs IND 1st Test: Probable playing XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
Where to watch
Fans can watch the India vs England 1st Test live on JioHotstar and Sony Sports Network. The toss is set for 3:00 PM IST, followed by the first ball at 3:30 PM IST.