The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 campaign has kick-started for England and India with both teams locked in an intense battle in a five-match series. The 1st Test saw India lose to England by five wickets at Headingley in Leeds in an enthralling contest over five days.
Ben Stokes' England showed superb effort with the bat and ball after having won the toss and opting to bowl. Shubman Gill-led India made use of the flat conditions at Leeds with opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and Gill (147) scoring centuries alongside Rishabh Pant (134) as the visitors posted 471. Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue took four wickets each.
England, in reply, scored 465 with Ollie Pope scoring 106 and Harry Brook slamming a blistering 99 as Jasprit Bumrah took another five-for that left the hosts trailing India's target by six runs.
In the second innings, India had another great outing with the bat as KL Rahul (137) and Pant (118) centuries took India to 364, setting a target of 371.
However, the Headingley pitch that offered less to the bowlers and more to the batters saw English openers make merry with Ben Duckett (149) giving Indian bowlers a tough time.
Despite a late fightback from the visitors, England got to the target with ease as they went 1-0 up in the five-match series.
ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 Points Table:
With the victory, England are top of the current WTC 2025-27 points table. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are second and third with India in fourth.
