India commenced their preparations for the upcoming five-Test series against England with a spirited training session at Lordโs on Saturday, marking the beginning of a crucial overseas campaign under the leadership of new skipper Shubman Gill.
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Gill, who takes charge as Indiaโs 37th Test captain following the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, oversaw a high-intensity workout featuring several key players. The pace battery of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh, along with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, trained under the watchful eye of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
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The five-Test series is set to begin on 20 June at Headingley, Leeds, and will be followed by fixtures at Edgbaston, Lordโs, Old Trafford and The Oval.
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Acclimatisation in progress
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Several players from the main squad are already engaged in the ongoing India A tour, participating in the second official Test against the England Lions at Northampton. The exercise is expected to help players acclimatise to the conditions and maintain match sharpness before the senior side’s campaign gets underway.
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Also read: Team India lands in UK for 5-Test series
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Indiaโs last Test series victory in England came in 2007 under Rahul Dravidโs leadership. With a relatively young squad, Gill’s side will be hoping to emulate that historic success.
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India last toured England in 2018, losing the Test series 4โ1โฏ. Despite spirited performancesโincluding centuries from Virat Kohliโthe hosts overpowered India with pace and swing. In contrast, the 2021 series ended in a 2โ2 draw after five Tests, marking a historic achievement as India overcame early setbacks to level the contest, which stood at 2โ2 before the final match was cancelled due to COVIDโ19โฏ. It remains Indiaโs most recent Test series in England.
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Gillโs elevation to captaincy represents a generational shift for the Indian Test side, with selectors placing faith in youth and continuity. The 24-year-old opener has long been seen as a future leader and now has an opportunity to cement his place both as a batsman and a skipper in one of cricket’s most challenging assignments.
