🔵 India in England 2025: A High-Stakes Test Series Begins
From June 20 to August 4, 2025, India is touring England for a five‑match Test series—the first major series of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. Hosted across England’s most iconic grounds, it’s the inaugural contest for the newly launched Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, replacing the Pataudi Trophy in honor of legends James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar .
India arrives under new leadership, with Shubman Gill at the helm following the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli . Meanwhile, England, led by Ben Stokes with Brendon McCullum at the helm, bring their aggressive “Bazball” approach to series play.
⚙️ Series Context & Format
Matches: Five Tests at Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord’s (London), Old Trafford (Manchester), and The Oval (London) .
ICC: Part of the 2025–27 World Test Championship .
Trophy: Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy; series winner will hand down the Pataudi medal to the captain .
Captaincy: New for both sides—Gill for India, Stokes for England.
🧱 THE FIRST TEST (Headingley, Leeds – June 20–24)
Day 1–3: Indian Promise, English Resilience
India elected to bat first on a seamer-friendly Headingley deck . Despite green edges, India piled up runs thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant, each scoring centuries in a rare achievement—this marked the first time in Test history that a team posted five centuries in a match and still lost .
A standout performance came from Pant, who scored twin tons—making him only the second wicketkeeper ever to do so in the same Test . Rahul’s 137 and Pant’s brilliance ensured India made a massive 471 & 364 .
Day 4–5: England’s Historic Chase
England began their chase calmly—Zak Crawley (65) and Ben Duckett (149) built an impressive start with a 188-run opening partnership, the second-highest fourth-innings stand for England . Duckett’s aggressive yet measured innings—his sixth Test century—set the tone .
Despite losing some quick wickets in the middle overs, Joe Root anchored the chase with an unbeaten 53 alongside Jamie Smith (44*), guiding England to a historic 371-run triumph . It remains England’s second-highest successful chase on home soil and the first time a team scored five centuries and then conceded such a chase .
The Aftermath
England lead 1–0 in the series.
Analysts praised “Bazball” risk-taking: aggressive strategy rewarded .
Indian bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, struggled—Bumrah went wicketless in the fourth innings .
Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, faced scrutiny amid the collapse and fielding slips .
A young pace prospect, Harshit Rana, was released from the squad ahead of Test 2 .
🔍 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- India’s Batting Depth is Formidable
Five centurions—including twin centuries from Pant—prove India’s batting strength. But converting runs into wins remains a challenge. - England’s Aggression Paid Off
Their bold chase, led by Duckett and supported by Crawley and Root, showcased a fearless strategy under Stokes and McCullum. - Bowling Concerns for India
A flat pitch and absence of wickets at critical times put their bowling under question. Bumrah’s performance drew particular critique. - Leadership Under Spotlight
Gill’s era begins with a loss, but his own century highlighted personal promise. Gambhir, meanwhile, faces growing pressure.
🔮 WHAT’S NEXT: THE SECOND TEST (Edgbaston, Birmingham – July 2–6)
England Recall Jofra Archer—the fast bowler returns after a long injury break, boosting a robust bowling lineup .
Team India’s Rebuild—expect tactical tweaking; more seam support is likely since Bumrah may rest .
Pitch & Conditions—Edgbaston’s slightly drier track could favor spin on days 3–5. Jadeja and Kuldeep may play vital roles .
Psychological Swing—England aim to press home their early confidence; India need a strategic reset and mental rebound .
đź“Š SERIES PREDICTIONS & TRENDS
Bookmakers tip England to extend their lead—but India still has strong overseas records .
Pundits’ Verdicts: Monty Panesar says pitch conditions could decide rounds in India’s favor if flat; former fast bowlers like Dale Steyn expect a tight series, possibly 3–2 to England .
Sachin Tendulkar emphasised mastering “overhead conditions, air quality and pitches” as India’s keys to success in England .
🧠TACTICAL AREAS TO WATCH
India’s Third-Down Bowling: With seam options shifting, long spells from Jadeja or Kuldeep are likely.
Fielding Standards: India’s dropped chances cost them in Test 1. Fielding drilling will be non-negotiable ahead of Edgbaston.
Bang for Bench Depth: The rotation of pacers like Archer for England and selection tweaks for India will test squad planning.
Marathon Spinners: England rely on seam, but Indian spinners could trouble on drier decks.
🎯 CONCLUSION: THE BATTLE AHEAD
This series isn’t just a Test contest—it’s a statement battlefield. For India, it’s a hill climb under a fresh captain in unfamiliar conditions. For England, it’s about doubling down on their new fearless identity. If pitch conditions shift or mental composure cracks, each Test can swing dramatically—this is Test cricket at its most dramatic.
🧾 SUMMARY TABLE
Series Status
Format 5‑match Test series
Trophy Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy
WTC Series part of 2025–27 cycle
Captains India: Shubman Gill, England: Ben Stokes
Leading England lead 1–0
Key Stats India 5 centurions, England historic chase
Next Up Edgbaston Test, Jul 2–6
🔚 Final Thoughts
The Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy begins with historic drama. Headingley’s Test was a tale of two sides: India’s high-scoring resilience vs. England’s fearless chase. As the series heads to Edgbaston, the narrative shifts to spin duels, leadership acumen, and fielding excellence.
Whether it becomes a series defined by authority, adaptation, or aggression—Test cricket’s true essence is alive and electrifying. Fans of red‑ball cricket are in for a gripping summer.