The five-match Test series between England and India, commencing on June 20 at Headingley, represents a pivotal moment for both teams, particularly for India, who enter the longest format without three of their legendary players: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Their unexpected retirements have necessitated a significant overhaul, with Shubman Gill now at the forefront of a squad brimming with youthful potential.

Gautam Gambhir continues to guide this generational shift, as India aims to establish their next core for red-ball cricket. At 25, Gill becomes the youngest Test captain for India since Sachin Tendulkar and will face scrutiny as he endeavors to unify a team filled with exciting prospects yet lacking experience in English conditions.

On the other hand, England is advancing their Bazball strategy under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. They have selected a batting-heavy lineup for the first match, which may reflect both confidence and a risk against an Indian bowling attack spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The last encounter between these two teams in England occurred during the incomplete 2021–22 series, where India was ahead 2-1 before the fifth Test was postponed. England managed to equalize the series at 2-2 with a record chase at Edgbaston in 2022.

India has not secured a Test series victory in England since 2007, and with an untested top order and various selection dilemmas, including Karun Nair’s return, Sai Sudharsan’s potential debut, and the composition of the bowling lineup, this opening match at Headingley will serve as a crucial assessment of Gill's leadership and Gambhir’s strategic acumen.

India Predicted XI vs England, 1st Test

Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul

Middle-order: Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk)

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav

India vs England H2H record in Tests

Team India has faced England on 136 occasions in the longest format, clinching victories in 35 Tests, while losing 51. Their last Test series ended in a 4-1 win for India at home, though.

In England, both teams have squared off in 67 Tests, with England winning 36 Tests. India have won 9. In the previous Test series on English soil, however, India performed impressively, taking a 2-1 lead after four matches before the final Test was postponed to next year due to Covid-19 concerns. England eventually won the fifth Test at Edgbaston to draw 2-2. 

In their last 10 Tests, India hold a superior record with six wins and a draw.

India vs England: Most runs, most wickets

Joe Root holds the record for most runs in Test matches between the two countries, with 2846 runs to his name. Sachin Tendulkar is the highest among Indians and the second-highest overall, with 2535 runs.

• Joe Root (England) - 2846
• Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 2535
• Sunil Gavaskar (India) - 2483
• Alastair Cook (England) - 2431
• Virat Kohli (India) - 1991

James Anderson, meanwhile, leads the wicket-taking list by a fair margin in Tests between India and England, with 149 dismissals to his name. India's Ravichandran Ashwin is second with 114 wickets. Interestingly, none of the cricketers in the squads across both teams feature in the top 5 in the highest wicket-takers lists.

• James Anderson (England) - 149
• Ravichandran Ashwin (India) - 114
• Bhagwath Chandrashekhar (India) - 95
• Anil Kumble (India) - 92
• Bishan Singh Bedi (India) - 85

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