England have unveiled a 14-member squad for the opening Test against India at Headingley, Leeds, set to begin on Friday, June 20, as both teams prepare for a high-stakes five-match series marking the beginning of a new era in Test cricket.
A simply HUGE series awaits 🙌
Our squad for the 1st Test is HERE 👇
🏴 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 5, 2025
This will be the first Test series for India without modern-day greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who both retired from the longest format earlier this month. In their absence, Shubman Gill will take charge as India’s 37th Test captain, while Rishabh Pant has been named vice-captain. The tour, which stretches from June to August 2025, includes matches at iconic venues—Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
For England, significant changes have also reshaped the squad since their 4-1 defeat in India in 2024. Legendary fast bowler James Anderson has hung up his boots, and seasoned campaigners like Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes, and Ollie Robinson have been omitted from the setup.
The first Test squad, announced by the England Men’s selection panel, features a few surprises and welcome returns. Jamie Overton, who last played Test cricket in 2022, has earned a recall after his Surrey teammate Gus Atkinson was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Also returning are Jacob Bethell, Chris Woakes, and Brydon Carse, who missed England’s recent win over Zimbabwe due to minor fitness concerns.
Ben Stokes continues to lead the side, which includes a blend of youth and experience such as Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Zak Crawley. The squad also reflects England’s long-term investment in emerging talent, with names like Shoaib Bashir, Jamie Smith, and Sam Cook getting opportunities to stake their claim in the red-ball setup.
England Squad for First Test vs India: Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain, Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).
Meanwhile, India’s Test team has already begun acclimatising to English conditions. Several squad members are currently featuring in the India A vs England Lions series, with the first unofficial Test ending in a draw. The second match will begin on June 6 at the County Ground in Northampton. The remaining Indian players are expected to land in the UK by Friday.
India have not won a Test series in England since 2007, and the tour represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the next generation under Shubman Gill’s leadership. With both sides in transition, the upcoming series promises a compelling narrative built on new beginnings, fierce competition, and the ever-intense England-India rivalry.
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