India Faces England in Crucial Five-Test Series Opening at Leeds

India and England have commenced a pivotal five-Test series at Headingley, Leeds, marking the start of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. India, under the youthful captaincy of 25-year-old Shubman Gill and coached by Gautam Gambhir, is navigating a post-Kohli and Rohit Sharma era with a fresh and dynamic squad. The team features promising talents like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah, whose bowling prowess remains a significant asset despite recent injury concerns. England, led by Ben Stokes, aims to leverage their aggressive 'Bazball' style, though they face challenges with a relatively inexperienced bowling attack. The Headingley pitch, known for assisting pacers early on, is expected to test both teams' bowling units amidst uncertain weather conditions. Gambhir faces considerable pressure to reverse India's recent overseas struggles and establish dominance in English conditions.