England and India Announce Squads for 2025 Test Series Opener at Headingley
The five-match Test series between England and India is set to commence on June 20, 2025, at Headingley, Leeds. Both cricket boards have announced their squads for the first Test, marking the beginning of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
England Squad Highlights
Ben Stokes will lead England in the series opener. All-rounder Jamie Overton has been recalled to the Test squad for the first time since his debut against New Zealand in June 2022, where he scored 97 runs and took two wickets. Despite a recent finger injury sustained during an ODI against the West Indies, Overton has been included in the squad. Gus Atkinson is unavailable due to a hamstring injury. Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes have returned to bolster the pace attack, while Jacob Bethell adds depth to the batting lineup.
England’s 14-member squad:
- Ben Stokes (Captain)
- Shoaib Bashir
- Jacob Bethell
- Harry Brook
- Brydon Carse
- Sam Cook
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Jamie Overton
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith (Wicketkeeper)
- Josh Tongue
- Chris Woakes
India Squad Highlights
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Shubman Gill as the Test captain, with Rishabh Pant serving as his deputy. The 18-member squad features a blend of experienced players and promising talents. Notably, Karun Nair returns to the Test setup after an eight-year hiatus, and Nitish Reddy earns his maiden call-up. The squad also includes seasoned campaigners like Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
India’s 18-member squad:
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain & Wicketkeeper)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudharsan
- Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Karun Nair
- Nitish Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper)
- Washington Sundar
- Shardul Thakur
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Akash Deep
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav
Series Schedule
The five-match Test series is scheduled as follows:
- 1st Test: June 20–24, 2025 – Headingley, Leeds
- 2nd Test: July 2–6, 2025 – Edgbaston, Birmingham
- 3rd Test: July 10–14, 2025 – Lord’s, London
- 4th Test: July 23–27, 2025 – Old Trafford, Manchester
- 5th Test: July 31–August 4, 2025 – The Oval, London
Conclusion
This Test series marks a new chapter for both England and India as they embark on the latest ICC World Test Championship cycle. England’s squad combines seasoned players with fresh talent, aiming to leverage home conditions effectively. India, under the new leadership of Shubman Gill, brings a youthful and dynamic team ready to take on the challenges of English pitches. Cricket enthusiasts can anticipate a highly competitive and enthralling series between these two cricketing powerhouses.
