England Captain Stokes Backs Pope No.3 Ahead India Test Series

England opened their five-match Test cricket series against India at Headingley, Leeds, with Ben Stokes leading the home side and Shubman Gill captaining a refreshed Indian team. Stokes confirmed Ollie Pope will retain the crucial No. 3 batting position after scoring a commanding 171 in the prior Test against Zimbabwe, despite competition from the promising Jacob Bethell, who impressed during the New Zealand series. England's aggressive 'Bazball' style, fostered by Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, continues to shape their approach, aiming to leverage home conditions and a strong pace attack including players like Woakes. India counters with a balanced bowling lineup featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and debutant Arshdeep Singh, and is fielding a team with key new selections such as Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel. The series also honors cricket legends James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar with the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy contested between the sides. Both teams face high expectations, with the toss at Headingley seen as pivotal in setting the tone for this closely watched contest.