The first Test of the India-England series began on June 20th at Headingley. With the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill leads India as captain, supported by Rishabh Pant as his deputy. This series marks the start of the 2025-27 WTC cycle. Sai Sudarshan, the IPL 2025 highest run-scorer, received his Test cap from Cheteshwar Pujara. June 20th has historically been a significant day for Indian Test debuts.
In 1996, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly made their debuts. Dravid, known for his solid technique, became a key batsman, while Ganguly, a fearless leader, later captained the team. Both started their Test careers at Lord’s.
In 2011, Abhinav Mukund, Praveen Kumar, and Virat Kohli debuted on June 20th. Kohli went on to achieve global recognition as one of the greatest batsmen and a successful captain. The ongoing match at Leeds saw England win the toss and opt to bowl first. India’s opening pair, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, provided a stable start before KL Rahul’s dismissal.