ENG vs IND, Headingley Test: All you need to know about Gill's captaincy debut
India and England are set to kick off a highly anticipated five-match Test series at Headingley on June 20, marking the start of a new era in red-ball cricket for both sides. The series, running until August 4, promises a clash of philosophies—India under new captain Shubman Gill stepping into uncharted territory, and England looking to unleash their full-fledged Bazball approach on home turf for the first time against India.advertisementFor India, this will be the first major litmus test of Shubman Gill's leadership, following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket. At just 25, Gill will be tasked with not just leading a transitional squad, but also holding the batting order together. Having struggled in SENA countries so far, his form in England will be under intense scrutiny, especially after he confirmed he'll bat at No. 4, with Rishabh Pant coming in at No. 5.On the other side, Ben Stokes' England will finally get a chance to pit their much-talked-about Bazball brand of aggressive Test cricket against India in home conditions. Their last encounter earlier this year ended in a sobering 4-1 defeat in India, where Bazball's limitations were exposed on turning tracks. But at home, with conditions suiting their fast bowlers and aggressive stroke play, England will be keen to prove that Bazball is no one-trick pony.advertisement
While the spotlight will naturally be on Shubman Gill's captaincy debut, India will also look to players like Pant—nicknamed 'Spidey'—to move beyond just flair and contribute with responsibility. With both teams in transition and the World Test Championship points up for grabs, the Headingley Test could well set the tone for a summer of high-stakes, high-intensity cricket.ENG vs IND, Headingley Test: Leeds pitch conditionThe pitch at Headingley for the opening Test between India and England is expected to offer a fair contest between bat and ball. According to Richard Robinson, Head of Grounds at Headingley, the surface is likely to assist seamers early on, but with Leeds experiencing hot weather, conditions could ease out and become more batting-friendly as the match progresses. This shift could favour both teams—allowing England to stick to their aggressive style while giving India's relatively new-look batting line-up a chance to settle in.Robinson also highlighted that the aim is to prepare a balanced pitch rather than a green-top, with 300 expected to be a competitive first-innings total. In an interview with RevSportz, he suggested that the pitch should evolve to support good cricket throughout the five days, keeping both bowling and batting units in play. The surface, while challenging at the start, is expected to reward discipline and application, making it a strategic battleground in this high-stakes series opener.ENG vs IND: Playing and Predicted XIadvertisementEngland have confirmed their playing XI for the Headingley Test, while India are yet to announce anything.India Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B. Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh KrishnaEngland Playing XI (confirmed): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib BashirENG vs IND: Head to HeadIndia and England have faced each other in a total of 136 Test matches, with England holding the upper hand with 51 victories. India, in comparison, have won 35 Tests, while the remaining matches ended in draws.When it comes to playing in English conditions, India have managed just 9 wins out of 67 Tests, with England winning 36 and 22 matches finishing as draws.When is ENG vs IND Headingley Test?The England vs India Test series opener is set to begin on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds.The match will begin at 3:30 pm with the toss set to take place on 3:00 PM (IST).advertisementENG vs IND: Leeds weather conditionsThe weather at Headingley looks favourable for the start of the India vs England Test series, with no rain expected on the opening day. Temperatures are likely to hover around a warm 28C during the day, dipping to about 15C in the evening.Cloud cover is expected to be moderate at around 45%, but the chance of rain remains very low at just 4%. While conditions will stay warm through the afternoon, overcast skies in the evening could offer some assistance to the bowlers. With little threat of showers, a full day's play is firmly on the cards for fans.Where can I watch ENG vs IND Test series in India?Indian cricket fans can catch all the live action from the India tour of England exclusively on the Sony Sports Network.Where can I livestream ENG vs IND Test series in India?Indian cricket fans can livestreram all the matches of the India tour of England on the JioHotstar app and website.Must Watch
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