India starts a new chapter with Gill, focusing on England's weakened bowling attack
India starts a new chapter with Gill, focusing on England's weakened bowling attack
England vs India: India has not won a test series on English soil since 2007. India led 2-1 in 2021, but the pandemic forced the fifth and final test at Edgbaston to be postponed for 10 months to mid-2022, and the series ended in a draw.
The last time India played a Test without any of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, or Rohit Sharma in the starting XI was back in 2011, during the Oval Test in England. That game became memorable for a lot of reasons. RP Singh was flown in from his vacation in Miami to play. Ian Bell scored a huge double-century. Graeme Swann spun his way to six wickets. Rahul Dravid, fighting hard in a tough series, hit his third century. Suresh Raina struggled badly and got out for a pair in just 42 balls combined. And then came the 4-0 whitewash India didn’t win a single match in that series.
Coming to the present time and it's been 14 years since that tough tour. Now, as India prepares to take the field at Headingley in Leeds for another Test series in England, they’ll do it without any of those five senior players for the first time in over a decade. It’s more than just a fresh team sheet it’s the beginning of a whole new era for Indian Test cricket.
Thinking back to 2011 makes sense because that series was the starting point for a big reset in Indian cricket. Within a year, the team began to evolve into one of the strongest and most adaptable Test sides the country has ever seen. Many of the names that became legendary in the last 10–12 years came out of that transition. Now, the class of 2025 faces a similar challenge only this time, they don’t have the luxury of easing into the role with a comfortable home series.
Instead, they’re being dropped straight into the deep end, in tough English conditions, where playing Tests is never easy. This new phase unofficially begins with Shubman Gill leading a new generation, a torchbearer for what comes next.
But England, too, isn’t the same as it was in those earlier years 2011, 2014, 2018, or even 2021. Back then, they were powered by the legendary fast-bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who often turned matches on their own. In this 2025 series, Anderson’s name is only on the trophy now, and Broad’s in the commentary box.
England also has its share of concerns, especially with their fast bowling. Injuries to Mark Wood and Olly Stone have weakened their pace attack. Gus Atkinson might come in, and Jofra Archer could finally return in the second Test, but neither will be part of the starting XI right away.
This gives India an opportunity England's inexperience in the one area that matters most on their own turf could prove costly. And India knows it. Most importantly, India still has Jasprit Bumrah one of the best fast bowlers in the world right now and the kind of match-winner who thrives in English conditions.
So while the names have changed and the times have shifted, the intensity remains. Both teams are turning the page but only one will get to start their new chapter with a statement win.
With Virat Kohli stepping away from Test cricket, Shubman Gill will now take over the crucial No. 4 spot, a position that has long been the backbone of India’s batting lineup. Right behind him, Rishabh Pant is set to bat at No. 5, bringing his trademark flair and aggression to the middle order.
That leaves India with a bit of a puzzle to solve for the No. 3 and No. 6 positions. They have five contenders: Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and two uncapped players B Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran. Out of these, India will likely pick two to complete the top six. But there’s also a chance they might go bold and include three of them especially if they want to use Reddy as a seam-bowling allrounder, which gives the team more flexibility.
If India decides not to stretch their batting too deep, they’ll have to make a key decision at No. 8. That spot could go to either Shardul Thakur, who offers handy lower-order runs and medium pace, or Kuldeep Yadav, the wristspinner who brings variety and mystery to the attack.
As for the pace battery, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are locked in as the two senior fast bowlers. The third seamer’s slot is still open, with three exciting options in the mix.
India (probable) XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur/Nitish Kumar Reddy/Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.