The new chapter in the Indian test team is about to start with the five-match India vs England test series 2025 under the new captain, Shubman Gill. Without the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara, it is an opportunity for some of the youngsters to prove themselves at a big stage. On the other hand, England will look to settle the scores from last time around. They won a test series against India last time in 2018. Today, we will do the IND vs ENG 2025 series preview. We will see the expected playing XI, the kind of pitches we can expect, the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, their head-to-head record, key players to watch out for, and more. So let’s start.

IND vs ENG 2025 Series Preview

The Indian team is set to tour England for a five-match test series, starting from June 20, 2025, at Leeds. Both teams have played a few competitive test series in the last decade or so. Whether these two teams play in England or India, the tussle has always been the hallmark, and the competition has always been top-notch. Under a new leadership, Team India is set to look for glory in England against the Ben Stokes-led side.

England, on the other hand, will look to finish the drought of seven years against India. They won their last test series against India in 2018 in England by 4-1. Since then, they have toured India twice and lost both series. In between, Team India played a five-match test series in England in 2021 (the 5^th test was played later due to COVID-19) and India managed to draw the series 2-2. The English will be keen to host India, especially when they are in a transition period.

India’s Squad for the England Series 2025:-

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.

England’s Squad for the First Test:-

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, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.

IND vs ENG Head-to-Head Record in Tests

As of June 2025, India and England have played 136 test matches against each other. England is ahead with 51 wins. India has won 35 tests, while 50 tests have ended in a draw.

IND vs ENG 2025 Series: Strengths and Weaknesses

India’s Strengths

India’s strength is its bowling. If you are the Indian Cricket Team, you might think that the batting is a bit concern. But as far as bowling is concerned, the Indian team has the resources to make inroads in English conditions. Jasprit Bumrah is a world-class bowler, and Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep will also enjoy bowling in these conditions. They now also have a variety in Arshdeep Singh as a left-arm pacer.

In fact, in the first test, India’s bowling on paper looks better than England’s. If the Indian pacers bowl well in tandem, the English batter will also struggle to score runs on the pitches that are conducive for the pacers.

India’s Weakness

It is easy to guess India’s weakness, especially after some of the big players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement. Yes, it is India’s batting that is looking a bit inexperienced and weak at the same time. They don’t have much experience left in the batting lineup. Not just for this tour, we have seen some of India’s best batting line-up struggling in the swinging and seaming conditions.

Shubman Gill has not had a great record in England as of now. Yashasvi Jaiswal is playing in England for the first time. The other batters also do not have much experience playing in England. Indian batters have to apply themselves well in conditions that are favourable for the fast bowlers. Otherwise, they will struggle to post a competitive total for their bowlers.

ALSO READ: Why are South African players retiring early these days?

England’s Strengths

Despite James Anderson and Stuart Broad retiring, despite not having Jofra Archer and Mark Wood for the first test, England pacers have always found ways to put the opposition down with their bowling in home conditions. English bowlers, at home, will always bowl well, especially against the Asian team, as the conditions are alien to them. Bowlers like Chris Woakes will not leave their length and will ask questions to the Indian batters. The other England bowlers will also use the conditions to a good effect.

Another strength of England is its aggressive batting approach. England has changed their approach in tests in the last three years. They always look to score runs and try to put the opposition bowlers under pressure. Although their approach has not found much success outside home (mostly against big test teams), they will fancy their chances in home conditions.

England’s Weakness

England’s batting approach is a two-edged sword. Sometimes they found success, sometimes they didn’t. We have also seen them failing as well while going hard at the bowlers. Nowadays, batting standards in test cricket have gone down, and England is no different. Joe Root looks like one of the bowlers who can play a long innings and has been in great form over the last few seasons, but the other batters will have to tackle the lethal Indian bowling attack.

Expected Playing XIs

India’s Expected Playing XI:

India might go with Shardul Thakur after his good performance in the intra-squad game. That means Nitish Reddy has to sit out. Rahul and Yashasvi are the likely openers, and Sai Sudharsan is likely to start at No. 3 in the playing XI. Captain Shubman Gill will not bat at NO. 4. Karun Nair, who has scored a lot of runs in domestic cricket, for India A, and in the IPL, will start in the playing XI in the middle order.

KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

England’s Expected Playing XI:

England’s top 7 is a no-brainer. Jacob Bethell has to sit out despite having a good start to his test career. England will also include Bashir as a spin bowling option. Chris Woakes is likely to start with the new ball along with Josh Tongue. Their only selection choice problem would be either Sam Cook or Brydon Carse.

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse/Sam Cook, Shoaib Bashir.

IND vs ENG 2025 Series: Key Players to Watch Out For

India

Shubman Gill

It is high time for Shubman Gill to prove his worth. His SENA countries’ batting numbers are not good enough as of now. He has the technique and the ability to score big runs. If the leader leads from the front, it will create a different kind of environment in the team.

Karun Nair

Karun Nair has scored loads of runs in domestic cricket before getting a recall in the test setup. He knows his game and has scored a double hundred in the India A vs England Lions game recently. The onus will be on him to lead the middle order.

Jasprit Bumrah

It is easy to pick Jasprit Bumrah as a key player to watch for. Whatever format he plays, in whatever conditions, he will always hold the key. He will enjoy bowling in England. The opposition batters have had fears of Bumrah in their mind in the past as well.

ALSO READ: All UEFA Nations League Edition Winners

England

Joe Root

The way Joe Root has been playing in the last few seasons, he will be the one to watch out for. Pleasing to the eye, the ability to score big runs makes him such a valuable player on the team. If he bats well, the Indian bowlers might have a long day in the field.

Chris Woakes

Chris Woakes will start in the first test against India in Leeds. In the past as well, he has done well against India in home conditions. His line and length are impeccable and will give nothing easy to score freely. His ability to swing the ball makes him one of the dangerous bowlers in England with that Dukes ball that will swing whole day.

Harry Brook

Harry Brook will look to attack the Indian bowlers right from the word go. With the Bazball approach, he will show intent and not hold back if the ball comes his way. Brook has done well in England and will look to continue doing it against the challenging Indian bowling attack.

What to Expect From the Pitches in England?

England might be tempted to give greenish wickets to India, looking at Indian batters’ struggle in England (especially after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement). The only problem in doing that is that India will also have the bowlers to use the conditions to a good effect. England’s Bazball approach needs pitches that will help the batters who are stroke makers. They will not make flat batting decks because that will also not help the English bowlers, but they will try to make pitches that will help their pacers, and at the same time, their batters can also find ways to score runs. The sporting wickets in all we can expect in this IND vs ENG 2025 series.

CONCLUSION: Who Will Win the IND vs ENG 2025 Series? (Series Prediction)

See if you are an Indian fan, you might be disappointed to hear that it will be a difficult series for them. They don’t have much experience in batting. The captain is new, and we have seen that Bumrah looks like a one-man army in the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). As of now, England are firm favourites to win the series, because they are playing at home. As far as the series scoreline, the IND vs ENG 2025 series might end up with 4-1 in favour of the home team.

This new Indian team has the fire to do well. We have seen the miracles happening in the past. Remember that BGT 2020-21, when all the odds were against India. Let’s see how things panned out in this IND vs ENG 2025 series. What are your predictions for the series? Comment down below. Thank you for reading. Keep following sportschilly.com for the latest updates, analysis, stories, opinions, predictions, and more.