India vs England Test Series

England’s Headingley record: With India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant, the tour kicks off with the first Test at Headingley. Iconic figures Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin have retired from Test cricket, marking a fresh era for India. England’s strong historical stats at Headingley are under scrutiny.
Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy unveiled: The ECB and BCCI have introduced the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, named after legends James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar, replacing the Pataudi and Anthony De Mello Trophies. Their images and signatures are engraved on the trophy, with a new Pataudi Medal for the winning captain .
Strategy and squad updates:
- England captain Ben Stokes stresses that while entertaining cricket remains important, winning is paramount. He praised vice-captain Ollie Pope, and noted that pace ace Jofra Archer may soon return from injury .
- Jimmy Anderson reflected on his fierce rivalry with Virat Kohli, concluding that mutual respect has grown despite never being friends on the field .
Domestic call-up update: Despite a poor IPL season, Mumbai Indians’ Tilak Verma has been picked up for county cricket in England ahead of the Tests .

ICC & Global Cricket Developments

Mixed Disability T20I Series: Team India’s mixed disability squad has begun its training camp in Jaipur. They will play a historic 7-match T20I series in England starting June 21, including a high-profile opening against England Women in a double-header. This marks a landmark moment in inclusive cricket .
ICC updates playing conditions: From June 2025, Test match regulations are updated, and from July onwards, One Day Internationals will return to a single-ball rule after 34 overs to reintroduce reverse swing. Concussion substitute rules have also been tightened .
U.S. cricket expansion: Major League Cricket (MLC) has moved its U.S. headquarters to Texas. The 2025 season, kicking off in June, underscores cricket’s growing foothold in the U.S.
Regional League Sponsorship: Regional powerhouse 1xBat Sporting Lines has become the official sponsor of the Eagle Nashik Titans in the Maharashtra Premier League – India’s fastest-growing cricket league after the IPL.

World Test Championship (WTC) Final: South Africa won the 2023–25 WTC final at Lord’s against Australia by five wickets, earning their first ICC title since 1998 .
Ongoing June tours:
- Australia in West Indies: A three-Test series (June 25–July 28) and five T20Is are underway .
- South Africa in Zimbabwe: Two Tests followed by a tri-series with New Zealand, starting June 28–July 10 .
- Bangladesh in Sri Lanka: Includes two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is throughout June–July .

Topic	Summary
🇮🇳 India’s Red‑ball transition	With veterans retired, Gill & Pant lead a new era. Strong England challenge ahead.
🏆 New Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy	Built to commemorate two Test icons—Anderson & Tendulkar.
⚖️ ODI rule change	Single-ball usage post-34 overs to foster reverse swing.
♿ Inclusive move	Mixed disability T20Is epitomizing cricket for all.
🌎 Global growth	MLC advances U.S. cricket; regional leagues in India expanding.