India vs England 2025 1st Test, Leeds Weather forecast: Overcast skies and showers could favour bowlers at Headingley
Rain could hamper proceedings at Headingley in the 1st Test(X)
New Delhi: With Shubman Gill set to lead India in his first Test as a captain, the weather might end up being a significant factor that will dictate the way this new era begins. The first Test of the five-match series between India and England begins on Friday in Leeds, however the weather forecast indicates partly cloudy skies and chances of rain all through the weekend, which can play havoc on the progress of the match.
According to AccuWeather, on the 2nd and 3rd days, there is a possibility of receiving some showers in the afternoons, and on the 4th day the sky will probably open in the evening with light rain. Even though Day 1 and Day 5 should be predominantly dry, the continuous cloud cover and humidity in the air are likely to facilitate pace bowlers and test the technique and focus of batters. Interestingly, day 1 could present a sunny streak to Leeds, but with very little interference of clouds.
Under these circumstances, India might be lured to field four seamers, which is very appropriate given the weather conditions. It may all boil down to whether Ravindra Jadeja has utility and batting depth, whether Kuldeep Yadav would add a threat with his wrist-spin, and whether Washington Sundar is of dual value with the bat and the ball. Overhead and surface conditions may be the terms to call rather than pre-series planning.
A number of Indian players will walk into the series with confidence owing to their recent stints in counties. Shubman Gill played a memorable inning in his stint with Glamorgan in 2022, in which he scored 244 runs in only four innings at an average of 61.00, including a classy 119. Probable middle order mainstay Karun Nair too had a fantastic stint with Northamptonshire, scoring 736 runs in 14innings at an analusys of 56.61
Sai Sudharsan as well enjoyed good exposure with Surrey having made 281 runs in two seasons. An experience by Arshdeep Singh (13 wickets) with Kent and Sundar (8 wickets and a five-wicket haul) playing Lancashire might help them adapt to the dynamics of English pitches rather fast.
When Gill takes a rejuvenated Indian team into a series where the fortunes can change on an hourly basis, the challenge will not be against England, but the very English summer itself.
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