As excitement builds for the five-match Test series between India and England starting Friday, June 20, at Headingley in Leeds, the Indian cricket team took a refreshing breather with a lively headshot session. The session, held just days before the series opener, provided fans a delightful behind-the-scenes look at the Men in Blue in a lighthearted and cheerful mood. This series not only opens the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams but also ushers in a new era in Indian Test cricket.
On Tuesday, June 17, the Indian cricket team’s official Instagram handle posted a special behind-the-scenes video from their headshot session. The clip showed players sharing laughs, playful banter, and enjoying the atmosphere with ease. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli having recently retired from Test cricket, the upbeat shoot marked a fresh, spirited beginning for a new-look Indian side.
In a significant leadership transition, 24-year-old Shubman Gill has taken over as the new Test captain, with dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant appointed as his vice-captain. Both players, already established match-winners in their own right, now shoulder the responsibility of leading the team through this pivotal period. The energy between the two during the headshot session reflected strong camaraderie and a shared vision for the future.
The series is set to be a litmus test for several emerging talents, with the selectors placing faith in a young and ambitious squad. Notable inclusions such as Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Nitish Reddy, and Akash Deep signal a clear shift towards grooming the next generation of Test stars. Karun Nair also returns to the fold, hoping to revive his red-ball credentials.
Meanwhile, experienced players like Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and KL Rahul will anchor the squad, ensuring a blend of experience and youth. The bowling department, led by Bumrah, looks formidable with pace options like Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh, complemented by the spin prowess of Kuldeep Yadav and all-round utility of Washington Sundar.
India’s squad for the England series:
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, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
