INDIA'S BID FOR HISTORY IN ENGLAND

India's red-ball tour of England kicks off earlier than usual this year, with the first Test set to begin on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds. Traditionally, India's Test assignments in England have started in July or August, as in 2021, when the series unfolded in the heart of summer.

- Siddhaarth Mahan

This early start brings new challenges, demanding sharper preparation and quick adaptability on seam-friendly pitches likely to offer more movement and moisture than usual.

Back in 2021, India drew that series 2-2. They held all the momentum at 2-1, only for the final Test to be postponed due to a Covid wave and ultimately lost when it was replayed a year later. That postponed match snatched away India's best chance since 2007 to triumph on English soil.

This time around, India enters a new phase, not just in scheduling, but symbolically. The series has been renamed the “Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy”, a nod to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and England's swing king James Anderson, signifying mutual respect and the start of a new WTC cycle. Anderson himself, now retired - expressed that sharing the trophy with Tendulkar is a “huge honour,” acknowledging their shared legacy.