India commenced their preparations for the upcoming five-Test series against England with a spirited training session at Lord’s on Saturday, marking the beginning of a crucial overseas campaign under the leadership of new skipper Shubman Gill.
Gill, who takes charge as India’s 37th Test captain following the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, oversaw a high-intensity workout featuring several key players. The pace battery of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh, along with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, trained under the watchful eye of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
The five-Test series is set to begin on 20 June at Headingley, Leeds, and will be followed by fixtures at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval.
Acclimatisation in progress
Several players from the main squad are already engaged in the ongoing India A tour, participating in the second official Test against the England Lions at Northampton. The exercise is expected to help players acclimatise to the conditions and maintain match sharpness before the senior side's campaign gets underway.
Also read: Team India lands in UK for 5-Test series
India’s last Test series victory in England came in 2007 under Rahul Dravid’s leadership. With a relatively young squad, Gill's side will be hoping to emulate that historic success.
India last toured England in 2018, losing the Test series 4–1 . Despite spirited performances—including centuries from Virat Kohli—the hosts overpowered India with pace and swing. In contrast, the 2021 series ended in a 2–2 draw after five Tests, marking a historic achievement as India overcame early setbacks to level the contest, which stood at 2–2 before the final match was cancelled due to COVID‑19 . It remains India’s most recent Test series in England.
Gill’s elevation to captaincy represents a generational shift for the Indian Test side, with selectors placing faith in youth and continuity. The 24-year-old opener has long been seen as a future leader and now has an opportunity to cement his place both as a batsman and a skipper in one of cricket's most challenging assignments.
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