Shubman Gill Era Begins: India Gears Up to Face Weakened England Attack

As India kicks off their 2025 Test series against England at Headingley, a new chapter begins under the leadership of Shubman Gill, who officially takes over as India's 37th men’s Test captain. This marks the first time since 2011 that India will play a Test match without big names like Kohli, Ashwin, Rohit, Pujara, and Rahane — a true changing of the guard.

England, too, enter this series with their own concerns, especially in the bowling department. With experienced pacers like Mark Wood and Olly Stone ruled out due to injury, and Jofra Archer not starting the first Test, England’s pace attack will be led by relatively inexperienced players such as Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse. That inexperience could be a major advantage for India, who will look to exploit the opportunity with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj leading the charge.

India's likely playing XI includes fresh names like B Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair, while KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will provide experience in the top order. The team is expected to balance its bowling with options like Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, or Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Shubman Gill’s leadership will be under the spotlight, not just as a tactical captain but also as a batsman aiming to elevate his average and leave a strong mark in his debut series as skipper. The synergy between him and vice-captain Rishabh Pant could be key to creating a positive and secure team environment.

As for the pitch, Headingley is expected to favor bowlers early on but flattens out as the match progresses. Recent records show teams bowling first have won the last six Tests at the venue — a strong hint that winning the toss will be crucial.

With both sides entering a new era and the World Test Championship cycle beginning, this series promises to be a thrilling encounter. While England hopes to find stability with names like Woakes and Root, India sees this as a golden chance to build the future, with Gill at the helm.

Reference from :- https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-in-england-2025-1445348/england-vs-india-1st-test-1448349/match-preview