India's Cricket Team Arrives in the UK for Test Series Against England

India's Arrival Marks New Era in Test Cricket

On June 7, Saturday, the Indian men's cricket team landed in the UK to kick off their five-match Test series against England. This series marks the beginning of India's journey in the new 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle, ushering in a new chapter for the team. With seasoned players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin stepping away from Test cricket, Shubman Gill now leads the squad.

The team departed from Mumbai on Friday and arrived in London the next day. The Board of Control for Cricket in India released a video showcasing the players' travel experience and their arrival at Heathrow Airport. In the footage, Jasprit Bumrah humorously teased captain Shubman Gill for wearing sunglasses at night. Young batter B Sai Sudharsan, who received his first Test call-up, expressed his excitement about joining the team.

However, the sparse crowd at the airport was unexpected. Typically, when Team India travels abroad, they are greeted by enthusiastic fans waving flags and cheering. This time, the atmosphere was notably quiet, with only a handful of media personnel and a few fans present to welcome the players.

Many believe that the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma contributed to the low turnout. These two stars have historically attracted large crowds wherever they played, and their absence is felt not just in terms of their cricketing skills but also the excitement they brought to the game.

Shubman Gill Faces New Challenges

The spotlight now shifts to Shubman Gill, who must lead a relatively young team through a challenging series in England. Players like Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Arshdeep Singh may have the chance to make their Test debuts.

Before the series kicks off on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds, India will engage in a four-day practice match against India A. Some players have already been in England, participating in practice matches to acclimatize to the conditions.

The five-match series will take place at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord's, The Oval, and Old Trafford. Both India and England aim to start their World Test Championship campaigns on a positive note, marking the beginning of a new journey for Team India.