🏏INDIA VS ENGLAND TEST: A NEW ERA BEGINS SET FOR EXPLOSIVE START AT HEADINGLEY – 2025

Cricket’s most storied rivalry is ready for a thrilling new chapter as India and England lock horns in the First Test at Headingley, Leeds starting June 20. With generational transitions, fresh leadership, and a high-stakes prize in the form of the newly minted Pataudi Medal, the five-match series promises a feast of Test cricket at its purest.

🔁 New Faces, New Frontlines – INDIA VS ENGLAND TEST

Both teams step into this series with revamped lineups. For India, the baton of leadership has officially passed to Shubman Gill, who takes charge as India’s youngest Test captain. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired, and Jasprit Bumrah choosing to focus solely on his bowling duties, this is very much a fresh Indian outfit, hungry to rewrite history.

Vice-captain Rishabh Pant, in a press meet yesterday, hinted at a tactical batting reshuffle, with Gill likely batting at No. 4, flanked by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer, with Pant anchoring the middle order. India’s bowling, led by Bumrah, will carry the responsibility of cracking England’s aggressive “Bazball” code.

🏴‍☠️ England Sticks to Its Guns – INDIA VS ENGLAND TEST

England, under Jos Buttler’s captaincy, has announced a power-packed XI featuring Ben Duckett, and the return of Chris Woakes. The home side continues to back its Bazball formula, aiming to dictate the pace of play and throw India off its traditional rhythm.

Despite home conditions favouring their swing bowlers, England’s consistency remains under question—particularly with the pressure of hosting a younger, fearless Indian unit.

🏆 The Pataudi Medal: A Historic Honour – INDIA VS ENGLAND TEST

In a gesture steeped in cricketing nostalgia, the Pataudi Medal will be awarded to the victorious captain at the end of the series. The award pays tribute to the legacy of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who once captained both India and Sussex, symbolising the deep-rooted history between the two cricketing nations.

The medal adds an emotional and historical weight to what is already a marquee contest in the World Test Championship cycle.

🔥 What to Watch – INDIA VS ENGLAND TEST

• Gill’s captaincy under fire — Can he handle English conditions and Bazball pressure?
• Pant’s comeback series — With his leadership growing off-field, can he deliver match-turning performances with the bat?
• Headingley Hoodoo — India hasn’t won a Test series in England since 2007. Can this new squad break the curse?

🎙️ Final Word – INDIA VS ENGLAND TEST

As India enters a post-Kohli, post-Rohit era, and England double-downs on their Bazball DNA, this series feels like a changing of the guard. The outcome could shape the trajectory of Test cricket’s relevance in both nations.

BiGG Sports NEWS will be bringing you ball-by-ball updates, player analysis, and exclusive commentary throughout the series.

Let the battle begin.

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