England captain Ben Stokes dismissed the hype around Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the first Test at Leeds, saying his side has “no fear” of India’s pace spearhead. Stokes acknowledged Bumrah’s quality but emphasized that cricket is a team game. “One bowler won’t win a series,” he said. Bumrah, who has taken 60 wickets in 14 Tests against England, is expected to be crucial for India in Virat Kohli’s absence. However, he may play only select matches to manage fitness. With a young English attack and India relying on Bumrah’s brilliance, the five-match series promises fierce competition and mind games. (PC: HT)

The eagerly awaited five-match Test series between India and England begins June 20, 2025, at Headingley, Leeds, marking the start of the ICC World Test Championship cycle . Matches will also take place in Birmingham, London (Lord’s and The Oval), and Manchester, all starting at 3:30 PM IST . India, captained by Shubman Gill (vice-captain Rishabh Pant), begins a new leadership era following Kohli and Sharma’s retirement . Fans in India can enjoy live streaming on JioHotstar, while TV telecasts are available on Sony Sports Network. (PC: NDTV)9    

Virat Kohli, though freshly retired from Test cricket, welcomed India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill, vice‑captain Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj and others to his London home on June 16. With India beginning a five‑match Test series in England on June 20 at Headingley, Kohli hosted them on an off‑day following Kent’s intra‑squad match. The two‑hour meeting, captured via RevSportz, appears to be a morale‑boosting session ahead of the series. Gill, succeeding Rohit Sharma, embarks on his first Test captaincy in red‑ball cricket. Meanwhile, English great James Anderson praised Kohli’s competitiveness, noting his improved technique since their early battles. (PC: BCCI)

Jasprit Bumrah has opened up about why he didn’t become India’s Test captain after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from red-ball cricket. Bumrah revealed he turned down the offer due to workload concerns and past back injuries. “Before Rohit and Virat retired during the IPL, I had spoken to the BCCI about my workloads going forward in a five-Test match series,” he said. Bumrah added that he consulted his doctors and physios before making the call. “I love cricket more than captaincy,” he said, adding that it’s better for the team to have one consistent leader. Shubman Gill was named captain for the England series.

At just 14, Vaibhav Suryavanshi stunned IPL 2025 with a record-breaking 101 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals. Born in Bihar, he’s the youngest to debut in both IPL and Indian List A cricket. Despite comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar, former selector Venkatapathy Raju urged BCCI to wait, stressing the need for domestic consistency. “Sachin hit centuries in Ranji, Duleep, and Irani Trophies,” Raju said, urging patience. Suryavanshi is currently with the India U-19 squad in England after a 190-run blitz in a warm-up game. Fans are excited, but experts call for grooming before a senior India team debut. (PC: X)

With Head Coach Gautam Gambhir flying back to India due to his mother’s ill health, former great VVS Laxman—currently NCA chief—has assumed interim coaching duties for the Indian cricket team ahead of the five-match Test series in England, beginning June 20 in Leeds . Already on the ground in London with India’s Under‑19 and “A” sides, Laxman brings valuable continuity, having previously overseen team preparations during Gambhir’s absence in South Africa . Under his guidance, the new-look Test squad—captained by Shubman Gill and missing veterans Kohli and Sharma—will fine‑tune strategy in intra‑squad games ahead of the first Test. (PC: PTI)

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has offered candid advice to Shubman Gill, who steps up as India’s new Test captain for the five‑match series in England (June 20–Aug 4). While praising Gill’s talent, Ganguly stressed the importance of technical refinement particularly his defence and ability to handle seam and swing, especially against the new ball. Gill assumes leadership during a transition phase, with veterans Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ashwin now retired. Ganguly remains optimistic but realistic: “Conditions are not where you just hit through the line, it’s going to be difficult upfront. Shubman has to play the new ball” (PC: CricTracker)

South Africa claimed their first ICC trophy since 1998 by defeating Australia in the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s (June 11–14), chasing down 282 with a five-wicket win . Opener Aiden Markram's sublime 136 anchored the chase, complemented by captain Temba Bavuma’s gritty 66 . Kagiso Rabada’s match-turning nine wickets sealed the triumph . This landmark victory lifted South Africa’s longstanding "chokers" curse and ignited national euphoria, marking a watershed moment in Proteas cricket history. Their eight-match winning streak underscores a new era of resilience and global ambition. (PC: Sportskeeda)

India’s four-day intra-squad practice match against India A in Beckenham continues on Day 2, serving as crucial preparation ahead of the five‑Test England tour starting June 20. Captain Shubman Gill, in his first red-ball leadership role, impressed with a fluent half‑century on Day 1, alongside KL Rahul’s fifty and Shardul Thakur’s wicket-taking spell. Gill urged intensity in fielding and discipline in batting and bowling units. Tailenders Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh took batting drills, emphasising depth. Yashasvi Jaiswal remains under scrutiny after a modest start. Meanwhile, coach Gautam Gambhir returned to India due to a family emergency. (PC: X/BCCI)

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar couldn’t contain his excitement as South Africa triumphed over India in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s. Celebrating the historic win, Tendulkar posted on social media with sheer joy. Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh also joined the celebration, humorously addressing Australia, saying, “It’s okay to let go of one trophy.” The victory marks a significant moment in South African cricket history, being their maiden WTC title. The cricket fraternity, fans, and former players flooded social media with congratulatory messages, praising the team’s grit and determination. The win also sparked renewed enthusiasm for the future of Test cricket globally. (PC: Jagran Josh, Facebook & Hindustan Times)