As India and England prepare to face off in their five-match Test series starting June 20 at Headingley, the absence of big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma opens up some fresh rivalries and match-ups. With a young Indian team led by Shubman Gill taking on Ben Stokes’ England in familiar conditions, let’s look at five key battles that will shape the first Test.
Joe Root vs. Jasprit Bumrah: A battle of two modern day legends
Joe Root has always struggled against Jasprit Bumrah’s pace and angles. Root has faced Bumrah in 24 innings and scored 286 runs but averages just 31.77. Bumrah has got Root out nine times in Tests, making him one of Root’s toughest opponents. With Root holding the English batting order and Bumrah leading India’s attack, this will be a big one in Leeds.
KL Rahul vs. Chris Woakes: A Test of Technique
With Kohli and Rohit absent, KL Rahul has a bigger burden to carry and will face Chris Woakes right from the word go. Woakes is a master of swinging the new ball and has already dismissed Rahul at The Oval in 2021. Rahul has scored 614 runs in England with a decent average but can be shaky in the beginning of his innings. This will be a test of Rahul’s technique against Woakes’ consistency.
Rishabh Pant vs. Shoaib Bashir: A Flamboyant Face-off
The battle between Rishabh Pant and Shoaib Bashir will bring some excitement to the IND vs ENG Tests. Both are known for their aggressive style of play. Rishabh has a good record in England and will look to build on that. Bashir has started well this season and will want to shine against India.
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Harry Brook vs. Mohammed Siraj: The Next Stars
Harry Brook has had a great start to his career, shining in both Tests and limited-overs cricket. But he will need to prove himself against India, facing Mohammed Siraj who is back in the team after missing the 2025 Champions Trophy. Siraj played a key role in India’s last Test series in England and will want to make an impact in this first Test against Brook
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Ben Stokes vs. Ravindra Jadeja:
The all-rounder battle between Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja is big. Jadeja has got Stokes out six times in 19 innings and has been very economical against him, averaging just 20.83. Jadeja has kept Stokes in check whether at home or away. Stokes has got the better of Jadeja three times, especially when he’s batting lower down the order. Both are key with bat and ball, so this will be a big one.
