England vs India 1st Test Live: Shubman Gill Leads India; Sai Sudharsan Makes Debut, England Bowl First in Leeds

The much-anticipated five-Test series between England and India has officially begun at Headingley, Leeds, under warm English skies. England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bowl first, aiming to capitalize on the live grass and early morning conditions. India, captained for the first time in Tests by Shubman Gill, will bat first on what is expected to become a good batting surface as the day progresses.

Key Highlights:

🏏 Ben Stokes wins the toss, chooses to bowl first

🇮🇳 Shubman Gill makes Test captaincy debut for India

🔥 B Sai Sudharsan receives Test cap, set to bat at No. 3

🏏 Karun Nair returns to India’s Test team after 8 years

🎗️ Both teams wear black armbands to honor victims of Ahmedabad plane crash

🌡️ Temperatures set to hit 29°C, conditions ideal for cricket

Team News – India

India has chosen to go with a four-seamer attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur, while Ravindra Jadeja serves as the sole spinner. Kuldeep Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy miss out.

B Sai Sudharsan, who recently won the Orange Cap in IPL 2025, will make his Test debut, becoming India’s 317th Test cricketer. Karun Nair makes a long-awaited comeback, likely to bat at No. 6.

Team News – England

England’s playing XI, confirmed two days ahead of the match, includes Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse opening the bowling, with Josh Tongue and Ben Stokes supporting. Shoaib Bashir is their lone spinner. Ollie Pope retains his No. 3 spot.

Series Significance: Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Begins

This series marks the inauguration of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a tribute to two of Test cricket’s most iconic figures. The opening match in Leeds is already promising fierce competition and drama, with Ben Stokes predicting “chaos” over the course of the next six weeks.

A Moment of Silence

Before the start of play, both teams observed a moment of silence and wore black armbands in remembrance of the Air India plane crash victims from Ahmedabad.

What’s Next

India will look to weather the new-ball challenge and post a competitive first-innings total. All eyes will be on debutant Sai Sudharsan, comeback man Karun Nair, and new captain Shubman Gill as they begin India’s campaign in the toughest conditions Test cricket has to offer.

Stay tuned to our Live Report for ball-by-ball updates, expert commentary, and behind-the-scenes action from Headingley.