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
 "Sai Sudharsan makes India debut")
Sai Sudharsan makes India debut
In a bold start to the newly-minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl in the opening Test at Headingley on Friday. Banking on early seam movement under clear skies, Stokes looked to exploit a pitch with a greenish hue and 9mm of grass—slightly less than usual for county games but still enough to pose questions early.
“Headingley is a very good cricket wicket,” Stokes said. “We want to try and use the early conditions. It's been a long time coming, but we're ready.”
Check India vs England 1st Test Day 1 live score and match update here
Check India vs England 1st Test full scorecard and match details here
Sai Sudharsan makes Test debut, Karun returns
India, led by new Test skipper Shubman Gill, responded with a fresh look to their XI. Left-hander B Sai Sudharsan was handed his Test cap, slotting in at No. 3, while Karun Nair returned to the middle order. All-rounder Shardul Thakur also made his way back into the side.
Gill, who would have bowled first as well, remained upbeat. “Might be a bit tough in the first session, but it should be good to bat on later. Sun is out, should be a good batting deck for us,” he said. “Sai makes his debut, Karun comes in. Sai will bat at three.”
Broad’s verdict: Expect early bite, late cracks
Former England quick Stuart Broad offered a layered reading of the pitch. With 9mm of grass and visible cracks already forming, Broad predicted seam early and the possibility of spin later in the match.
"Day 1 at Leeds, you always get a bit of seam movement,” Broad observed. “You have to be fuller here—you have to risk a drive. There’s nothing for short. You’ve got to make batters hit down the ground.”
He also hinted at the possibility of reverse swing due to the dryness but stressed that the new ball must count.
The Playing XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
3:53 PM
India vs England 1st Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE UPDATES
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
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
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."
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.
Topics : India vs England India cricket team England cricket team ICC World Test Championship Test Cricket
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First Published: Jun 20 2025 | 9:19 AM IST
