India vs England 1st Test at Headingley sees B Sai Sudharsan make his Test debut and Shubman Gill lead as captain. England chooses to bowl first in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy opener, kicking off the new World Test Championship cycle with a fresh squad and high anticipation on both sides.
The much-anticipated Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy kicked off on Friday at Headingley with England winning the toss and electing to bowl first against India in the opening Test of the five-match series. The series marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both cricketing giants, setting the stage for high-stakes competition.
A major highlight from India’s camp is the debut of B Sai Sudharsan, the young left-handed batsman from Tamil Nadu. Sudharsan becomes India’s 317th Test cricketer, earning his cap from veteran Cheteshwar Pujara, who is part of the broadcast team for the series. Notably, Sudharsan has experience in English conditions, having played for Surrey in the County Championship. He will slot in at number three in the batting lineup.
Interestingly, his Test debut falls on June 20, a date that has historically been lucky for Indian cricket legends—Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly debuted on this day in 1996, and Virat Kohli followed suit in 2011.
India’s playing XI sees a few fresh faces and comeback stories. Karun Nair, making a return to the Test side after seven years, will bat at number six. Known for his triple century against England in 2016, Nair’s inclusion adds depth to the middle order.
In the bowling department, Shardul Thakur takes up the all-rounder’s role at number eight, preferred over Nitish Kumar Reddy. The pace battery features Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna, while Ravindra Jadeja is the lone spin-bowling all-rounder. Kuldeep Yadav misses out, with the team opting for a more pace-heavy attack.
This match also marks the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket as Shubman Gill leads the side for the first time in Tests. Speaking at the toss, Gill expressed confidence in his team and the pitch conditions. “We’d have bowled first as well. It has been a dry summer, so although there might be a little bit in it in the first session, it’s going to be a really good batting wicket after that,” he said. He also mentioned that the team’s preparation has been excellent, with players mentally and physically ready for the challenge.
From the English side, Ben Stokes leads a team full of familiar names, with a few strategic inclusions. The squad features Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Harry Brook forming a strong top and middle order. New wicketkeeper Jamie Smith gets a look-in, and the bowling attack includes Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir.
| Also Read: FIH Pro League 2024-25: India’s final test against Belgium in Europe |
Stokes admitted that their preparation for the series had been “mixed”, with some players involved in County cricket and others joining late. However, he remains optimistic. “Headingley is generally a very good cricket wicket, we’ve had some great games here over the years and hopefully we can use the early conditions and get a bit out of it,” he said.
The Test at Headingley promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams aim to start their WTC campaign on a strong note. With Sudharsan’s debut, Gill’s captaincy, and the renewed rivalry in a new trophy contest, the stage is set for high-quality cricket.
