Team India's fresh and hopeful Test squad is off to England in what appears to be their ultimate test. The pressure is on for captain Shubman Gill, and head coach Gautam Gambhir as they attempt to conquer English soil—a feat not achieved in 18 years.
India celebrated their most recent series win in England under Rahul Dravid’s leadership in 2007, with a close 1-0 victory. That victorious run included challenges faced by none other than Gautam Gambhir, now coaching from the sidelines.
Source: aajtak
Under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's command in 2011 and 2014, India's tours to England remained unfulfilled. Similar fates awaited Virat Kohli's captaincy in 2018 and 2022, though a tie in the illustrious Pataudi Trophy, now esteemed as the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, changed perceptions slightly.
India's 2011 tour was sobering with an unfortunate clean sweep (0-4) against them. The story repeated in 2018 with a heavy 1-4 loss under Kohli. In stark contrast, 2022 saw India leveling the series 2-2 in what was a competitive display.
Shubman Gill stands at the helm ready to break the enduring spell that escaped even the hands of captains like Dhoni and Kohli. For head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team, a redemption journey is underway, especially after the 1-3 defeat in the Australian Test and retirements of stalwarts like Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli. It's a chance for Gill to make his mark and lead forward.
🗣️ "It's really important to create a bond with the players as a captain."
Test captain Shubman Gill talks about his vision and captaincy style ahead of the England tour 🙌
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— BCCI (@BCCI)
Record of Tours:
2007 England Tour (India won 1-0):1. First Test - Draw, Lord's 2. Second Test - India won by 7 wickets, Nottingham 3. Third Test - Draw, The Oval
2011 England Tour (England won 4-0):1. First Test - England won by 196 runs, Lord’s 2. Second Test - England won by 319 runs, Nottingham 3. Third Test - England won by innings and 242 runs, Birmingham 4. Fourth Test - England won by innings and 8 runs, The Oval
2014 England Tour (England won 3-1):1. First Test - Draw, Nottingham 2. Second Test - India won by 95 runs, Lord's 3. Third Test - England won by 266 runs, Southampton 4. Fourth Test - England won by innings and 54 runs, Manchester 5. Fifth Test - England won by innings and 244 runs, The Oval
2018 England Tour (England won 4-1):1. First Test- England won by 31 runs, Birmingham 2. Second Test- England won by innings and 159 runs, Lord’s 3. Third Test - India won by 203 runs, Nottingham 4. Fourth Test - England won by 60 runs, Southampton 5. Fifth Test - England won by 118 runs, The Oval
2021-2022 England Tour (Drawn 2-2):1. First Test- Draw, Nottingham 2. Second Test - India won by 151 runs, Lord's 3. Third Test - England won by innings and 76 runs, Leeds 4. Fourth Test - India won by 157 runs, The Oval 5. Fifth Test - England won by 7 wickets, Birmingham
Can Gill Break the 18-Year 'Winless' Tradition?
Team India boasts talents ready to be tested in England's swing, seam, and bounce-heavy pitches—a true examination of their grit. For Shubman Gill, a budding captain, the task ahead is monumental. He faces immense pressure against a backdrop of limited English playing experience, as reflected in his past Test outings: a 14.66 average with a high score of 28.
India vs. England Test Series History:
Total Tests: 136, India won: 35, England won: 51, Draw: 50
Tests in England:
Total: 67, India won: 9, England won: 36, Draw: 22
Tests in India:
Total: 69, India won: 26, England won: 15, Draw: 28
England's Squad for First Test Against India:
Bain Stokes (captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jack Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes
India's 18-Member Squad for the England Tour:
Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain/wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Karun Nair, Washington Sundar, Aakash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
Full Schedule of India vs. England Test Series:
First Test: June 20-24, 2025 - Headingley, Leeds Second Test: July 2-6, 2025 - Edgbaston, Birmingham Third Test: July 10-14, 2025 - Lord’s, London Fourth Test: July 23-27, 2025 - Old Trafford, Manchester Fifth Test: July 31-August 4, 2025 - The Oval, London
