With less than a year remaining until India’s highly anticipated tour of the United Kingdom, the BCCI announced the fixtures for the five-Test series on Thursday. This tour marks the beginning of a fresh World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, with India set to play across some of England’s most iconic cricket grounds. The series is particularly significant as India has not won a Test series in England since 2007. They came tantalizingly close in 2021, but the series ended in a 2-2 draw.
For Rohit Sharma, who has already led India to victories against Australia and England on home soil, this tour presents one of the toughest challenges of his captaincy career. The five-Test series will be held at five of England’s major Test venues. The tour kicks off at Headingley in Leeds from June 20 to 24, 2025. After a week-long break, the action moves to Birmingham, where the second Test will be played at Edgbaston from July 2 to 6.
The third Test will be held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London from July 10 to 14, a venue that has long been considered the mecca of cricket. Manchester will host the fourth Test at Old Trafford from July 23 to 27, and the series will conclude with the fifth and final match at The Oval in London from July 31 to August 4.
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There is still uncertainty about whether India will participate in any practice matches before the series begins. Additionally, if India qualifies for the World Test Championship final, it is expected to take place just before the start of the Test series. India currently leads the WTC standings with a win percentage of 68.51, which is higher than second-placed Australia. However, Australia leads in points with 90 compared to India’s 74, though India has played three fewer Tests, winning six out of nine.
Great to see 5 match test series in England!
India hasn’t won a Test series in England in the last 17 years! Last time around, India was close to winning when the last test match was postponed due to covid.
– It’s time to create history in 2025. 👊
Exciting time for test… pic.twitter.com/HxAcjm7kzL
— Amit T (@amittalwalkar) August 22, 2024
Full Schedule:
- India vs. England 1st Test: June 20 to June 24, 2025
- India vs. England 2nd Test: July 2 to July 6, 2025
- India vs. England 3rd Test: July 10 to July 14, 2025
- India vs. England 4th Test: July 23 to July 27, 2025
- India vs. England 5th Test: July 31 to August 4, 2025
India’s last tour of England, in 2021 under Virat Kohli’s leadership, nearly ended a 14-year wait for a series win in the UK. After a rain-affected draw in the first Test, India achieved a memorable victory at Lord’s, winning by 151 runs, thanks to KL Rahul’s century and Kohli’s inspiring leadership. However, England bounced back with an innings and 76-run win at Leeds, only for India to retake the lead at The Oval, where Rohit Sharma scored his first overseas Test century.
Unfortunately, the decider in Manchester was postponed due to a Covid outbreak, and when it was eventually played in 2022, England emerged victorious by seven wickets at Edgbaston.
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Earlier this year, India and England faced off in a gruelling five-Test series during February-March, where India secured a 4-1 victory after trailing early. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the standout performer, scoring over 700 runs, including two double-centuries. The series also saw India debut five youngsters, including Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, and Devdutt Padikkal, all of whom made significant contributions during the series.
