England vs India Playing 11 for 1st Test: Sudharsan debuts, Nair returns; Shardul lone all-rounder

1st Test | IND vs ENG Playing 11: Sai Sudharsan gets the Test debut cap while Karun Nair returns to the playing 11 after nine years. Shardul Thakur is lone pace all-rounder

3:53 PM

India vs England 1st Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE UPDATES

TAP ON THE IMAGE TO CHECK IND vs ENG 1st Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE UPDATES

ENG vs IND 1st Test

3:50 PM

India vs England Playing 11 for 1st Test in Headingley, Leeds

England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
 

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

3:04 PM

India vs England Playing 11 live updates: India's Playing 11

Gill informed at the toss, Sudharsan to make debut. Karun Nair is back. Three pacers and Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder.

3:02 PM

India vs England Playing 11 live updates: The Three Lions' XI

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

3:01 PM

India vs England Playing 11 live updates: India batting first

England captain Ben Stokes wins the toss and elects to bowl first.

3:01 PM

India vs England Playing 11 live updates: Toss coming up

Shubman Gill and Ben Stokes are ready for the toss.

3:00 PM

India vs England Playing 11 live updates: Sudharsan gets the debut cap

Sai Sudharsan gets the debut cap ahead of toss. Where he will bat? We will know once the toss take place

2:34 PM

India vs England Playing 11 live updates: Sanjay Bangar picks Nair ahead of Sudharsan

My team is Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran at No. 3, Shubman Gill at No. 4, Rishabh Pant at No. 5, Karun Nair at No. 6, Nitish Kumar Reddy at No. 7, Kuldeep Yadav at No. 8, and then three seamers - Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah," India former batting coach Sanjay Bangar said on Star Sports.

2:29 PM

India vs England Playing 11 live updates: Just 30 mins away toss

We are just 30 minutes away from knowing the India's Playing 11. Stay tuned for latest updates.

Meanwhile, Check India vs England LIVE SCORE and MATCH UPDATES HERE

2:13 PM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Aakash Chopra on Indian batting order!

Aakash Chopra also had his say on how Team India could line-up in the first Test. "It could be Shubman Gill at No. 3 and Karun Nair at No. 4, or vice versa, or else Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, Shubman at No. 4, Rishabh Pant at No. 5, and Karun Nair at No. 6. That is also a possibility. I feel it will take a little time to settle. However, one thing is important. When you do something in the first match, you have to do it slightly from the point of view of continuity. If you make changes frequently, it will seem like your confidence is less. I am hoping that they think it through. Whatever is your top six, stick with it for a bit longer," he said.

1:50 PM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Sanjay Manjrekar predicts Team India playing 11!

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar picks his India playing 11 for the 1st Test at Headingley on June 20.

Sanjay Manjrekar's India playing 11 for 1st Test: KL Rahul, yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharshan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy/ Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Siraj

1:36 PM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Sachin shows the way to Indian batters!

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who has had his fair share of brilliant knocks in England talked about how one should bat in English conditions ahead of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. "You need to respect the conditions and bat accordingly," Tendulkar said. "It cannot be one-way traffic that my game is like this and I am going to play like this only." He said.

According to him, adapting to the moment is crucial. "If we respect that, then a lot of things can fall into place."

1:03 PM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Who will take the number 3 spot for India?

While skipper Shubman Gill hasn't revealed the batter for the number 3 spot yet, it will be interesting to see who takes the spot with Karun Nair, Sai Sudharshan in contention for it. While most people think Sai Sudharshan could be the better suitor for the role, Karun Nair also brings a pretty genuine option for the side with experience in his bag coming to England.

12:40 PM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: India's pace attack!

Team India will feature pacer Jasprit Bumrah leading the pace attack, with Mohd Siraj and Prasidh Krishna likely to be the ones to join him in the attack. Both pacers will have to contribute well and help Bumrah to get wickets at regular intervals so that Bumrah doesn't get isolated like he did at times in Australia.

12:24 PM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Will Indian batters step up to the task?

Despite of not having experienced batters like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in their line-up, the Indian batting order, who are not being considered as one to impress in England, have multiple players who could surprise everyone with their abilities going into the 5-match Test series. Sai Sudharshan, and an experienced Karun Nair who is coming into the 1st Test on the back of a double hundred against the England A side could leave the bowlers gasping for air on the day as well.

12:06 PM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Will India pick Kuldeep as second spinner?

There has been great speculation that India might go with two spinners in the Leeds Test given the hot weather conditions. However, India legend Sachin Tendulkar suggests, before the start of the match, that a team should pick two spinners in the Playing 11 only if there is no grass on the pitch.

TAP HERE TO READ SACHIN TENDULKAR's full statement on India's Playing 11

11:48 AM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Ashwin's XI for the 1st Test in Leeds today

India playing 11 prediction by spin legend R Ashwin

1. KL Rahul
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
3. Sai Sudharsan
4. Shubman Gill
5. Karun Nair
6. Rishabh Pant
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Shardul Thakur
9. Jasprit Bumrah
10. Mohammed Siraj
11. Prasidh Krishna

11:31 AM

Hope both of us play together for long: KL Rahul lauds childhood buddy Karun Nair's resolve

Nair's resilience earns praise
 

Senior Indian batter KL Rahul has expressed his delight at Karun Nair’s return to the Test squad for the five-match series against England, starting Friday. The duo, childhood friends and long-time teammates, first played together as 11-year-olds. While Rahul remained a regular in the national set-up, Nair faced an eight-year exile despite scoring a memorable triple century against England early in his career.

 

A Journey of grit and determination

Rahul credited Nair’s recent domestic performances and ability to "go back to basics" for his selection. “What has stood out is the way he has performed in the last 2-3 years,” Rahul said, highlighting Nair’s work in the county circuit and his resilience through tough phases.

 

Rahul confident of India's preparations
 

The right-handed batter also spoke about his own preparation, which began immediately after the IPL. Acknowledging the strength of the English side at home, Rahul admitted the young Indian team would face challenges but remained optimistic. “It's going to be a challenge for all of us as we are a comparatively young team,” he said, backing Nair to shine in his much-awaited comeback.

10:40 AM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: What can be India's XI today?

New Order, New Uncertainty: India’s XI Puzzle Ahead of Leeds Showdown

 

As Shubman Gill prepares to step into the void left by Virat Kohli at No. 4, and Rishabh Pant locks in at No. 5, the Indian batting order teeters on the edge of bold reinvention. With two spots—Nos. 3 and 6—still up for grabs, the team faces a tantalising selection dilemma.

 

A battle of five for two crucial spots
 

India must pick two from a diverse mix: Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and the uncapped B Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran. But there’s precedent to push the envelope further. Recalling the audacity of the Australia tour, there remains a real possibility that India may back three from the group—two as specialist batters, and Reddy as the seam-bowling all-rounder.

 

Batting depth or bowling firepower?

If the think tank opts against bolstering the batting line-up, the No. 8 spot opens a different debate: Shardul Thakur’s lower-order grit and medium pace versus Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin wizardry. The decision will shape not just the balance of the side but the tone of the series.

 

The pace core: No questions, only choices
 

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are all but inked in as the senior pacers. The third seamer’s slot, however, remains open to strategic interpretation. Prasidh Krishna offers bounce and height, Akash Deep brings seam and discipline, while Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm swing adds variety few can ignore.

 

As India stares down a rejuvenated England at Headingley, every selection will signal not just intent—but the future shape of Gill’s Test reign.

10:25 AM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Will the Leeds weather affect the Playing 11 choices of India?

The Leeds Weather forecast
 

Dry Spell Disruption? In the lead-up to the Test, Leeds has experienced unusually warm and dry conditions, raising the possibility that the pitch might break up more than usual.

 

Rain Lurks in the Forecast: Though the heat may alter the surface behaviour, rain is expected over the five days, potentially resetting the pitch’s traditional rhythm.

10:06 AM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Line-ups prediction

India Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

9:41 AM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: How India's number 3 batting position left vacant?

Batting at no. 4 was a shared call with Gambhir

 

Following Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket, Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir jointly decided on Gill’s role in the new batting order. “We were both clear—he wanted me to bat at No. 4 and I also wanted to bat at that number,” Gill revealed at the pre-match press conference in Leeds.

TAP HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

 

9:28 AM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Sai Sudharsan or Eswaran or Nair - Who is India's 3?

While the news is coming in that Karun Nair will take the number 3 batting position in India's Playing 11, many cricket pundits want Eswaran to get a chance given his batting prowess in domestic cricket as an opener.

 

Notably, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are set to be India's two openers.

 

Meanwhile, many cricket experts also believe that Sudharsan should get a chance, as he is seen as the future of Indian cricket.

9:23 AM

India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES

Hello and welcome to Business Standard's live coverage of India vs England Playing 11. All eyes on India's Playing 11 after England announced their Playing 11 two days before the start of the 1st Test. The toss at 3 PM IST will see new India captain Shubman Gill coming out with India's Playing 11 sheet. Before that we will look at what could be the India's XI.