Tag: England

LEEDS: India wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant has broken multiple records with a blazing century in the opening match of the five-match Test series against England.

With a century at the iconic Headingley, the left-handed batter surpassed MS Dhoni, former Indian captain record of most Test centuries (6) as a wicketkeeper batter for India.

Apart from this record, Rishabh Pant also became the first visiting wicketkeeper to score three centuries in England, while no other keeper has more than one hundred on English soil.

Rishab Pant’s 134-run knock featuring half a dozen sixes also took him past Rohit Sharma’s tally of most maximums in the ICC World Test Championship.

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Previously, Sharma had smashed 56 sixes in 40 matches while Rishab Pant has 58 maximums in just 35 matches. In addition to this, the southpaw further strengthened his record as the most prolific batter in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia).

The 27-year-old now has 1,746 runs in SENA nations at an impressive average of 38.80 from 27 Tests, overtaking MS Dhoni.

Rishab Pant continued to showcase his dominance against England by scoring an impressive century, making 134 runs off 178 balls at a strike rate of 75.28, an innings peppered with six maximums and 12 boundaries.

With the left-hander’s valuable contribution, Team India propelled to a commanding first-innings total of 471 runs.

Notably, this century marked Pant’s fourth Test hundred against England, setting a new world record for the most Test centuries by a wicketkeeper against them.

He surpassed the previous joint record of three centuries held by Tom Latham, Adam Gilchrist, Ian Healy, and Brad Haddin.

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England captain Ben Stokes has brushed off the threat posed by India’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the five-match test series, set to commence tomorrow at Leeds.

In the lead-up to the series, there were ample discussions regarding Bumrah’s skilful bowling and England’s bazball approach. However, the right-arm pacer is only available for three Tests due to workload management and injury concerns.

Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated series, Ben Stokes dismissed the notion of fearing Bumrah’s threat.

“No fear. In international cricket, you come up against quality opposition all the time. We know his class and what he brings to any team he plays for, but in terms of fear, definitely, he said.

“I don’t think one bowler alone is going to win the series for either team. All 11 [players] have to stand up. I don’t think there is just one person in either team holding the key to success,” Ben Stokes added.

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The 31-year-old pacer had a stellar run in 2024, having picked up 71 wickets in just 13 games at an average of 26.27. However, despite India ending the series on a losing note, Bumrah stood out with his phenomenal bowling down under.

However, Jasprit Bumrah sustained a back injury in the last Test against Australia, hence keeping him out of the Champions Trophy 2025.

A few days earlier, the fast bowler mentioned his injury problems and the number of the matches he will be play in the upcoming series.

“[We will] plan on the go. Three Test matches is what I’m looking at. Obviously that number is not decided. First [Test] is definitely on, that is going to happen.

The rest we’ll see how things are, what is the workload, what are the scenarios going on. Three Test matches is what I can manage at this moment. And I don’t want to be in a desperate scenario,” Bumrah stated.

With India set to play five Test matches without experienced Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah will carry most of the burden as he leads an inexperienced pace attack.

For context, Bumrah has enjoyed bowling in English conditions, taking 37 wickets in nine Tests.

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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has questioned Three Lions captain Ben Stokes’ readiness for the five-match Test series against India, which is set to begin tomorrow at Leeds. 

While speaking with an English news outlet, Vaughan expressed his amusement over Ben Stokes’ lack of match practice ahead of a packed summer.

“I’ve been staggered by the lack of time in the middle that Ben’s had as a batter. He didn’t have a great year last year when he got his injuries,” Vaughan said.

He also questioned England’s skipper’s absence from the Lions’ practice game against India A.

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‘A Scottie Scheffler or a footballer going into a major event would be playing. He’s had no game time. Why wouldn’t you want to play for England Lions just for a knock, not to bowl?

He was bowling against Zimbabwe, and clearly he’s fine, but why wouldn’t you just want a bit of time in the middle? Call me old school, but I think it’s quite nice to go out and hit a few balls,” he added.

The 50-year-old hailed Ben Stokes as an intelligent captain, deeming him a vital cog in England’s chances down under.

“England can only win in Australia with him, and that’s him being the all-rounder. If he goes to Australia just as the batter, that completely breaks the balance of the team and as much as he’s a genius captain, the team are 30-40 per cent better when he bowls. To win in Australia, he has to be bowling and batting well,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Ben Stokes returned for the first time after knee surgery, playing against Zimbabwe in a one-off historic Test.

The all-rounder did not have a good outing with the bat, scoring only nine runs; however, Stokes was impressive with the ball, taking three wickets in the match.

READ: Major blow for India as key player likely to miss first Test against England

LEEDS: In a significant blow to India, Karun Nair, who was set to play his first match since 2017, is doubtful for the first Test against England, which is set to commence tomorrow.

According to the reports, the right-handed batter sustained an injury during the net session while facing pacer Prasidh Krishna.

Karun Nair’s name emerged in 2016 after scoring an unbeaten 303 in his third Test, before disappearing.

However, he earned his place in the Indian team for the England tour after scoring a plethora of runs in Domestic cricket.

The Rajastan-born batter topped the run charts for Vidarbha in the 2024-25 season, having made 863 runs at 53.93 in a title-winning Ranji Trophy campaign.

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Earlier, Nair also had a stellar 50-over season, in which he scored five centuries in eight innings at an impressive average of 389.50 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

In addition to this, the 33-year-old batter was also on song for India ‘A’ during the first practice match against England Lions in the first unofficial Test in Canterbury.

He scored his fourth double century in first-class cricket, the second in England. Last year, he smashed a majestic unbeaten double hundred for Northamptonshire.

The five-match Test series will mark the start of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle for both teams, with India set to enter a new era under the leadership of their new captain, Shubman Gill.

For the unversed, India will be without their senior duo, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from Test cricket, bringing down the curtain on their illustrious careers.

India squad for England Tests:

Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akashdeep, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav.

READ: Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy unveiled for England-India Test series

The new Anderson-Tendulkar trophy honouring the two greats of the game has been unveiled ahead of the Test series between India and England, set to commence tomorrow at Leeds.

The Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, a joint initiative between the ECB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will now represent all future Test series between England and India.

Previously, the series in England was played for the Pataudi Trophy and the series in India for the Anthony De Mello Trophy.

The Pataudi family will continue to be honoured, with a newly commissioned Pataudi Medal to be presented to the winning captain of each England–India Test series.

The trophy features imagery of Anderson and Tendulkar in action, along with their engraved signatures– a fitting tribute to two of the game’s most iconic figures.

Both Anderson and Tendulkar are widely regarded as all-time greats. They are the most-capped players in the history of Test cricket: Tendulkar played 200 matches, and Anderson 188.

Anderson, considered one of the finest exponents of swing bowling, took 704 Test wickets, the most by a fast bowler in the format. The Lancashire seamer ranks third on the all-time list, behind only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.

Tendulkar, one of the most complete batters to have graced the game, remains the highest run-scorer in Test history with 15,921 runs. He made his debut at the age of 16 and went on to enjoy a distinguished 24-year international career.

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Speaking on the occasion, James Anderson expressed pride to have his name on this prestigious trophy.

“It’s a proud moment for me and my family to have this iconic series named after Sachin and myself. The rivalry between our two nations has always been something special, full of history, intensity and unforgettable moments, James Anderson said.

“To be recognised in this way is a real honour. I’m looking forward to seeing the next chapter unfold in England this summer. It promises to be compelling, competitive cricket – exactly what you’d expect from two great sides. This is elite sport at its finest,” James Anderson added.

Sachin Tendulkar mentioned the longest format of cricket, noting that it teaches a player to fight against all odds.

“For me, Test cricket embodies life – you give your best, and if things go wrong, it gives you another day to regroup, think, unlearn, and bounce back. It is the highest form of the game that teaches you endurance, discipline and adaptability, against all odds. I owe my foundation to Test cricket, as it has seen me grow from disappointments to triumphs, from aspirations to fulfilment, Sachin Tendulkar stated.

Sachin Tendulkar further highlighted both teams’ role in nurturing the future of Test cricket, emphasising the celebration of red-ball cricket.

“India and England have played a big role in shaping Test cricket in a way that it remains an evolving inspiration for subsequent generations.

And now, as I share this recognition with my on-field challenger and an off-field gentleman, James, I hope that the world celebrates the essence of Test cricket even more, allowing it to traverse boundaries yet untrodden,” Sachin Tendulkar concluded.

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LEEDS: Shubman Gill has a chance to make history in his first match as captain, as India prepare to face England in the opening game of the five-Test series at the iconic Headingley ground, starting on Friday.

The 25-year-old replaced regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who, along with Virat Kohli, announced retirement ahead of the tour, marking the beginning of a new era for Indian Test cricket.

A win at Headingley would make Gill only the third Indian captain to lead the side to victory at this venue, after Kapil Dev (1986) and Sourav Ganguly (2002).

Even stalwarts like MS Dhoni and Kohli couldn’t break the Headingley jinx. In fact, during India’s last appearance here in 2021, Kohli’s men suffered a crushing innings defeat.

It’s important to highlight that India has not clinched a Test series victory on English soil since 2007.

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Moreover, on June 20, when Shubman Gill walks out for the toss, he will become India’s fifth-youngest Test captain.

In doing so, he will step into the illustrious lineage of cricketing legends such as Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Sachin Tendulkar.

Since making his debut during the 2020–21 Australia tour, he has featured in 32 Tests, scoring 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05.

However, this will be his first full red-ball tour of England, having only featured in the WTC finals in 2021 and 2023.

The five-match series kicks off at Headingley, with the remaining Tests scheduled at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.

India squad for England Tests:

Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akashdeep, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav.

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India star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has explained the reason behind not captaining the Indian team in the five-match Test series against England.

While speaking during a recent interview, Bumrah disclosed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had approached him for the captaincy role.

“Before Rohit and Virat retired during the IPL, I had spoken to the BCCI about my workloads going forward in a five-test match series,’ he said.

“I’ve spoken to the people who have managed my back. I’ve talked to the surgeon as well, who’s always spoken to me about how smart you have to be about the workloads, Bumrah told Dinesh Karthik during the interview on Sky Sports.

The right-arm pacer deemed workload management as a key reason for not opting to captain Team India in the whites.

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‘So I did speak to him, and then we came to the conclusion that I have to be a little smarter. So then I called the BCCI and said I don’t want to be looked at in a leadership role because I won’t be able to give all the Test matches in a five-test match series,” Bumrah added.

Jasprit Bumrah also emphasised a team-first approach, noting that it was not fair to lead in only two Test matches.

“Yes, the BCCI was looking at me for leadership. But then I had to say, no, that it’s not fair for the team as well, that, you know, a five-Test match series, three matches, somebody else is leading, two matches, somebody else is leading. It’s not fair to the team. And I always wanted to put the team first,” he concluded.

For the unversed, following the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill was handed the reins of the Indian team in the longest format with the upcoming series as his major assignment.

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England batting maestro Joe Root is on the verge of achieving multiple milestones during the five-match Test series against India, set to commence on 20 June at Leeds.

The star batter will be eyeing to move up to second in the list of the highest run getters in Test cricket, surpassing Australia legend Ricky Ponting, who has amassed 13,378 runs in 168 Tests at an average of 51.85 with 42 centuries.

Joe Root, who recently crossed the 13,000 run-mark in the one-off historic test against Zimbabwe, requires 373 runs to surpass Ponting. Moreover, he needs 282 runs to cross India legend Rahul Dravid, while 283 to South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis.

Top five run-scorers in Test cricket

• Sachin Tendulkar 15921 in Tests
• Ricky Ponting 13378 in 168  Tests
• Jacques Kallis 13289 in 166 Tests
• Rahul Dravid 13288 in 164 Tests
• Joe Root 13006* in 153 Tests

Apart from this, reaching this feat, Joe Root will also aim to surpass Rahul Dravid’s highest-ever batting average in India-England Tests.

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The highest run-getter for England in Tests, Root, was in sublime form in the previous ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, amassing 1968 runs in 22 Tests.

The right-handed batter’s runs came at a staggering average of 54.66, with seven tons and an equal number of half-centuries, including a mammoth career-best 262 against Pakistan in Multan.

Joe Root could also become the first-ever batter to score 6,000 runs in WTC history. Currently, he has 5,543 runs in 64 matches at an average of 51.80 centuries and 21 fifties in 117 innings.

India vs England Test Series Schedule:

• 1st Test: Friday, June 20, Leeds
• 2nd Test: Wednesday, July 2, Birmingham
• 3rd Test: Thursday, July 10, London
• 4th Test: Wednesday, July 23, Manchester
• 5th Test: Thursday, July 31, London

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Former South African speedster Dale Steyn has predicted the winner of the upcoming Tendulkar-Anderson trophy, comprising a five-match Test series between England and India, slated to commence on June 20.

Earlier this month, the long-established Pataudi Trophy was renamed the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The trophy honours legends Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson for their significant contributions to Test cricket.

After the ICC World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa at the iconic Lord’s, Steyn predicted that England would win the upcoming five-match series, which will be fiercely contested with no draws.

“Every match will be tightly contested, but there will definitely be a result in each one. I expect England to win 3-2. None of the matches will be one-sided; all five will be closely fought,” Dale Steyn said.

It is noteworthy to mention that Team India will be without their ace batters, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who announced their retirements from the longest format of the game a month ago.

After Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Shubman Gill was appointed as the captain of the Test team, with India set to face England in the series opener at Headingley.

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Dale Steyn also shed light on South Africa’s journey to clinching the WTC title, citing the victories that led to the final.

“From the start of this World Test Championship cycle, South Africa knew they had to win a certain number of games to make it to the final — and they did that, winning seven in a row, regardless of the opposition,” Steyn said.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re up against, anyone who’s played Test cricket will tell you that winning even a single Test match is never easy. To win seven consecutively, earn a spot in the final, and then go on to get over the line today — that’s absolutely huge,” the 41-year-old concluded.

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The England Women’s selectors have named a 14-member squad for England Women’s upcoming T20I series against India.

Among the notable inclusions was left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who will return to international cricket after a break to prioritise her well-being.

Ecclestone bolsters a group coming off the back of a 3-0 win against West Indies, the first series in charge for Edwards and new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Following the squad announcement, head coach Charlotte Edwards stated that England are set to face one of the best sides in world cricket, India.

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“We’re really looking forward to taking on India. They’re one of the best sides in the world, and it’ll be a huge test for us,” she said.

“There was lots to be happy about in the West Indies series, but equally lots of things we want to keep improving on – we’re always looking at getting better,” she added.

Charlotte Edwards emphasised the importance of ICC T20 World Cup, marking the series against India as crucial ahead of the mega event.

“Five games against India in front of big crowds at great venues will serve us really well. This is a significant series for us with the countdown well and truly underway towards the home ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”

England Women will take on India in five matches, starting on June 28 at Trent Bridge. A three-match ODI series will follow, with the squad to be confirmed at a later date.

Schedule of England vs India T20I Series

1st T20I, June 28, Trent Bridge

2nd T20I, July  1, Bristol

3rd T20I, July  4, Kia Oval

4th T20I, July  4, Old Trafford

5th T20I, July  12, Edgbaston

England Women T20I squad:

Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones, Paige Scholfield, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Issy Wong

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