New Delhi: The highly anticipated India vs England 1st Test match of 2025 kicks off today, June 20, at Headingley, Leeds, marking the start of a thrilling five-match Test series for the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. This series, part of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, promises intense cricket action as a young Indian side, led by new Test captain Shubman Gill, takes on Ben Stokes’ aggressive England team.
Here’s everything you need to know about the ongoing match, including live updates, squads, pitch conditions, and where to watch.

Match Overview: India vs England 1st Test 2025

The 1st Test, running from June 20 to June 24, 2025, is being played at Headingley, Leeds, with the toss scheduled for 3:00 PM IST. This match marks a new era for Indian cricket, with Shubman Gill stepping up as India’s fifth-youngest Test captain at 25 years and 285 days, following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket. England, led by Ben Stokes, aims to leverage home conditions and their “Bazball” strategy to dominate the series opener.

India’s recent 3-1 loss to Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy has put pressure on Gill’s squad to perform, while England looks to capitalize on their familiarity with Headingley’s pace-friendly pitch. The series is a chance for both teams to set the tone for the new WTC cycle, with India aiming to end an 18-year drought for a Test series win on English soil.

Live Updates and Match Predictions

The match will began at 3:30 pm, with fans eagerly following the action. India’s batting lineup features openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who impressed in Australia, while the middle order includes relatively inexperienced players like Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill himself. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to stabilize the innings. England’s bowling attack, led by Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and lone spinner Shoaib Bashir, will test India’s batsmen, especially with Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness being a key concern for the visitors.

Former South African captain Graeme Smith has predicted an England victory, citing their experience in home conditions and India’s relatively young squad. However, India’s depth in spin and pace, with players like Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj, could challenge England’s aggressive batting approach, led by Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook.

Match Prediction: Experts suggest England holds a slight edge due to home advantage, but India could pull off an upset if their top order fires and Bumrah delivers with the ball.

Squads

India Squad

Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana.

England Squad

Ben Stokes (c), Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir, and others (full XI announced).

Headingley Pitch and Conditions

Headingley’s pitch is known to assist pacers early on, with bounce and movement under cloudy skies. However, it tends to become batting-friendly as the match progresses. Teams bowling first have won the last six Tests at this venue, making the toss crucial. Expect a high-scoring game if the top orders capitalize on improving conditions.

Where to Watch India vs England 1st Test 2025

India: Live telecast on Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports 1, 3, 4, 5, and HD channels). Live streaming is available on the JioHotstar app and website.
UK: Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event HD.
South Africa: SuperSport (Channel 212 and 201) and DSTV app.

Match Timings: 3:30 PM IST (11:00 AM local time) daily.

Head-to-Head Record

India and England have played 136 Test matches since 1932, with England winning 51, India 35, and 50 ending in draws. India’s last series win in England was in 2007, while their 2021-22 tour ended in a 2-2 draw. The 2024 home series saw India triumph 4-1 under Rohit Sharma.

Key Players to Watch

India: Shubman Gill (captain and batter), Jasprit Bumrah (pace spearhead), KL Rahul (opener), and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper-batter).

England: Ben Stokes (captain and all-rounder), Harry Brook (batter), Chris Woakes (pacer), and Shoaib Bashir (spinner).

Why This Series Matters

The Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, named after cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson, adds historical significance to this series. For India, it’s a chance to prove their young squad’s mettle in challenging conditions. For England, it’s an opportunity to assert dominance at home and kickstart their WTC campaign strongly. With both teams eyeing a spot in the 2027 WTC final, every session counts.