IND vs ENG: A new-look Indian Test side will take on England in a five-game red-ball series from 20 June 2025. The India tour of England will mark the beginning of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, with India opting to rebuild their squad under the leadership of newly appointed captain Shubman Gill, following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The Indian side features two debutants – Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanya Easwaran – as well as several returnees like Karun Nair. They will tour five venues across the UK, including iconic stadiums such as the Lord’s and the Oval. Let’s have a detailed look at the five grounds that will be used during the India vs England Test series 2025.
IND Vs ENG 1st Test Venue: Headingley, Leeds
The Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds is one of the oldest grounds in the UK. The ground is famous for the 1981 match between England and Australia, where the Three Lions, following on 227 runs and being 135/7, won the game by 18 runs, inspired by Ian Botham’s heroics.
The last Test on the ground was also played against Australia in July 2023, with England winning by three wickets. Mark Wood was the player of the match, taking seven wickets in total.
Big scores are always a chance, as Ben Stokes’ 195* in the Ashes in 2019 showed. However, the seam-friendly conditions at Headingley will be key for the Indian pacers to exploit in the first Test match, especially in the first innings.
IND Vs ENG 2nd Test Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
The Edgbaston Cricket Ground has been dubbed “England’s fortress” for the success that the home side has historically enjoyed there. The Three Lions have 56 Tests on the ground, winning 30 of them – a win percentage of 53.5%.
The ground is extremely friendly for seamers in the initial sessions, with morning batting averages being as low as 15.04 runs per wicket. In the later sessions, the conditions tend to favour batting more.
The last Test match on the ground was England facing West Indies in July 2024. The hosts secured a massive 10-wicket win in the contest, with Mark Wood again taking seven wickets in a player-of-the-match performance.
IND Vs ENG 3rd Test Venue: Lord’s, London
The “Home of Cricket” has seen scorelines like Australia’s 729/6 declared in 1930 and Sri Lanka bowled out for 38 in 2019. In the first innings, Lord’s allows for seam and swing, assisting pacers, but it tends to be a batting ground later in the second innings.
England’s Test record here is phenomenal. They have played 147 Tests on this ground – more than any other stadium – and won 59 of them. England won their last match on the ground against Sri Lanka by 190 runs.
In fact, the Three Lions have scored 300+ runs in all but one of their innings in their last four games at this venue.
IND Vs ENG 4th Test Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
The Old Trafford Cricket Ground is one of the most favourable stadiums for England, who have played 84 Test matches here and won 33 of them. The hosts are unbeaten in their last six Test matches on the ground, last being defeated by Australia in 2019.
The Old Trafford pitch has offered bounce, making it a haven for fast bowlers. However, recent results have shown high-scoring tendencies. England’s last outing on the ground against Sri Lanka saw Jamie Smith register scores of 111 and 39.
Meanwhile, Joe Root was phenomenal against South Africa in 2022, taking four wickets and scoring a century as the Three Lions won by an innings and 85 runs.
IND Vs ENG 5th Test Venue: The Oval, London
The Oval is one of the most historic grounds in the UK, with England hosting their first-ever Test match here back in 1880. After Lord’s, the Kennington Oval has seen the most number of England’s Test matches – 107, and the hosts have won 45 of them. England’s recent record has been better, winning five out of their last eight contests.
However, the Three Lions suffered an eight-wicket defeat in their last match against Sri Lanka in September 2024. Despite the home side posting a first-innings total of 325, Pathum Nissanka’s 64 and 127* sunk England in the thrilling contest.
