Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has picked his Indian playing XI for the upcoming first Test of the five-match series against England, set to begin on June 20 in Leeds. Notably, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is among the potential contenders who failed to make it into the playing XI for the match.
India are set to take on England in the first Test at Headingley in Leeds. The series marks the beginning of a new chapter for the visitors following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. With a young batting line-up, the Indian cricket team enters the contest looking to rebuild in the longest format.
Wasim Jaffer Picks His India Playing XI for ENG vs IND 2025 1st Test
Wasim Jaffer picked his top order for the first Test against England. Jaffer backed KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the opening pair. The duo had opened together during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
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Jaffer backed either Sai Sudharsan or Abhimanyu Easwaran to play at the No. 3 position. With Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, Jaffer picked newly-appointed captain Shubman Gill as the ideal candidate to take over the crucial No. 4 slot.
The former cricketer picked vice-captain and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, along with Karun Nair, who has earned a comeback after several years out of the Test setup, in the middle order.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Left Out of India Playing XI
Wasim Jaffer named Ravindra Jadeja as his spin-bowling all-rounder. Jaffer mentioned that pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur or a second spinner in Kuldeep Yadav will be picked for the crucial No. 8 spot. Nitish Kumar Reddy failed to make it into the playing XI for the series opener.
Nitish Reddy made his Test debut during their series in Australia late last year. Reddy impressed with the bat despite unfamiliar conditions. The 22-year-old scored 298 runs across five matches, averaging over 37. He also chipped in with five wickets at an average of 38.
Shardul Thakur has been recalled to the Test squad after being dropped following the 2023 South Africa tour. Thakur played in three Tests during the 2021/22 tour of England and the 2023 WTC final. He averages 24.71 with the bat and 37.10 with the ball in four matches in England.
Wasim Jaffer’s Playing XI for First Test Against England
The former cricketer selected Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna as the pace attack. Notably, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh was not included in his lineup.
Wasim Jaffer’s XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran/Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur/Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
My India XI for First Test:
1. Jaiswal
2. KL
3. Easwaran/Sai
4. Gill
5. Pant
6. Nair
7. Jadeja
8. Shardul/Kuldeep
9. Prasiddh
10. Bumrah
11. SirajWhat’s yours? #ENGvIND
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 18, 2025
The visitors last secured a Test series victory in England in 2007. They drew the series 2-2 in their most recent meeting on English soil.
The final Test, held in Birmingham in July 2022, was played almost a year after the fourth match due to a COVID-19-related delay and was won by the hosts.
Also read: Who forced Virat Kohli to retire? India’s bowling coach exposes behind the scenes
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