Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Gill takes charge as India face England without Kohli, Rohit

India begin their Test series in England with Shubman Gill as captain and without senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, marking the start of a new World Test Championship cycle with a revamped squad.

Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja

India captain Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja during a nets session at Headingley on June 18, 2025 in Leeds. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

INDIA will begin their Test series in England on Friday with a new captain and without two of their most experienced batters — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill, who takes over from Rohit, will also bat at number four, filling the position vacated by Kohli.

Vice-captain Rishabh Pant confirmed on Wednesday that Gill would bat at four in the first Test at Headingley. “I think Shubman is going to bat at number four and I'm going to stick to number five as of now,” Pant said. “Obviously, it's a new start for us, big people have left. Yes, there will be a gap, but at the same time, it's an opportunity for us to build a new culture from here.”


Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket days after Rohit stepped down, ending a phase in which the pair led India’s batting for over a decade. Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar together scored over 21,000 runs from the number four position in 278 Tests.

Gill, 25, has a Test average of 35 in 32 matches, which drops to 29 in away games and below 15 in three previous Tests in England. The Headingley match marks the start of a new World Test Championship cycle. India last won a series in England in 2007, with their only other wins coming in 1971 and 1986.

Leadership transition and new combinations

Pant, who has returned to cricket after a serious car accident in 2022, said his close friendship with Gill would help them in leadership roles. “If you're good friends off the field, it eventually comes on the field. Me and him, we get along really well together,” he said.

India will also miss the services of experienced bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, returning from a back injury, may be rested for two of the five Tests due to the schedule. Mohammed Shami is unavailable due to ankle surgery, and Ravichandran Ashwin has retired from Tests.

The selectors have named several fresh faces. Karun Nair could return to the XI, and Sai Sudharsan may get his debut. All-rounders Nitish Reddy and Shardul Thakur are being considered to strengthen the middle order, while there is also a chance Kuldeep Yadav could be included.

There are decisions to be made in the pace department. Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna are in contention to support Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Head coach Gautam Gambhir will face his first tactical test in a long series, with several selections yet to be finalised.

England without Anderson and Broad

England, who lost 4-1 in India last year, will be without James Anderson and Stuart Broad, their two most successful Test bowlers with 1,308 wickets combined. Their attack for the first Test will include Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir, with Woakes set to bat at number eight.

Durham’s Carse, who will make his home debut at Headingley, said the changes offer opportunities. “I think it's a good chance for a couple of younger players, with slightly less experience, to stamp down some authority throughout the series.”

Ben Stokes’ side will be without Jofra Archer and Mark Wood due to injury. Broad told The Times: “Looking at England, with all the injuries they've got – where are they getting 20 wickets?”

Pant said India wouldn’t take the new-look England attack lightly. “It feels so good when both of them are not there. But at the same time, they have enough ammunition in the England bowling line-up.”

The series could hinge on key battles, including the one between Bumrah and Joe Root, who has scored over 13,000 Test runs. England will also rely on batters like Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook and Ollie Pope.

Squads

England (playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

India: 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.

(With inputs from agencies)

More For You

Southport

Floral tributes left by members of the public are seen following the fatal knife attack on three young girls in July in Southport.

Reuters

Public inquiry begins into Southport girls' murders

A PUBLIC inquiry begins on Tuesday into the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport last year.

The inquiry will examine whether the attack could have been prevented and how future incidents might be avoided.

Keep ReadingShow less
 7/7 bombings

The King said the public should draw on the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' shown in response to the attacks. (Photo credit: X/@RoyalFamily)

Starmer and King Charles pay tribute on 20th anniversary of 7/7 bombings

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and King Charles on Monday paid tribute to the unity shown in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London, as the country marked 20 years since the attacks.

On 7 July 2005, four Islamist extremists carried out suicide bombings at Aldgate Station, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.

Keep ReadingShow less
India vs England

The win was India’s first Test victory in nine matches at Edgbaston, where they had previously suffered seven defeats and a draw.

Getty Images

India level series with big win over England as Akash Deep takes 10 wickets

INDIA defeated England by 336 runs in the second Test at Edgbaston on Sunday, levelling the five-match series 1-1. Akash Deep, playing in place of rested pacer Jasprit Bumrah, took 10 wickets in the match — his first 10-wicket haul in Test cricket.

England were bowled out for 271 while chasing a target of 608. Deep took 6-99 in the second innings, ending with match figures of 10-147 — the best of his eight-Test career so far.

Keep ReadingShow less
family-centre-iStock

Currently, one in four families with children under five do not have access to local children’s centres or Family Hubs. (Representational image: iStock)

£500 million plan to expand family services across England

THE UK government has announced the nationwide rollout of Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority, aiming to support 500,000 more children by 2028.

The hubs are intended to offer easier access to family services and reduce pressure on parents.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less