IND vs ENG Prediction: The opening Test of the newly renamed Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy-formerly known as the Pataudi Trophy-gets underway today, June 20, at Headingley in Leeds. This high-profile series also signals the beginning of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 campaign for both India and England.
In the previous WTC cycle, England secured sixth place, registering 11 wins from 22 matches. India, meanwhile, finished third, missing out on a place in the final after a 3-0 series loss at home to New Zealand and a 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

India enters this series at a pivotal moment, with the retirements of long-time Test stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin marking the end of an era. Shubman Gill steps in as the new captain, leading a youthful squad, with Rishabh Pant named as his vice-captain.
Match: India (IND) vs England (ENG)
Date: Friday, June 20
India and England have faced each other in 136 Test matches. England have won 51 of those encounters, while India have claimed victory in 35. The remaining 50 matches ended in draws. Their most recent meeting took place in Dharamshala in 2024, where India secured a dominant win by an innings and 64 runs.
Team India, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, is set to begin a fresh chapter in Test cricket as they kick off the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The opening Test of the five-match series against England will serve as a significant challenge for both the newly appointed captain and head coach Gautam Gambhir, as they look to make a strong impression in their new roles.
Following a demanding Indian Premier League (IPL) season that wrapped up earlier this month, the squad has had ample time to recover. The players have also spent valuable time preparing in English conditions, putting in the hard yards during practice sessions ahead of this much-anticipated series opener.
India begin a new era under Shubman Gill with a young squad, while England, led by Ben Stokes, enter with a settled side and the home advantage. With the match marking the start of the WTC 2025-27 cycle, both teams will be eager to start strong.
Conditions at Headingley are expected to favour fast bowlers early on, making the toss crucial. While India's fresh energy and preparation may challenge England, the hosts' familiarity with the conditions and experience give them a slight edge.
Prediction: England to win a closely contested match.