The battle for the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England is fast heating up. The Headingly Cricket Ground at Leeds gears up to host an exciting showdown between two power-packed Test sides. England would look to redeem themselves by avenging the disastrous 4-1 series loss that occurred to them in their previous Test tour to India. On the other hand, India looks all set to start afresh and embark on a new chapter after their disappointing defeat in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Following the exit of Indian stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the Test, all eyes are on the new-look Indian side, who at the moment seem to have a cautious blend of youth and experience. It's highly likely that we may see some fresh faces don the Indian jersey in whites. In this article, we bring you the top three Indian players to watch out for ahead of the first Test.

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Sai Sudharsan

The 23-year-old youngster from Tamil Nadu is in the form of his life. Sudharsan endured a spectacular run in the recent IPL 2025 season. He etched his name in the record books by finishing as the highest run scorer of the season. Sudharsan has featured for India in the limited-overs format and has enjoyed a fair bit of success. If drafted in the playing eleven, then it will be Sudharsan's first Test assignment for his national side. Sudharsan has played a formidable amount of County cricket in England and is fairly accustomed to the English conditions. Playing for Surrey, the youngster slammed 281 runs in two seasons, which included his sparkling century against Nottinghamshire in 2024.

Shubman Gill

The player who is perhaps the most talked about ahead of the series opener is none other than India's Test captain Shubman Gill. After successfully taking over the captaincy reins from the departing Rohit Sharma, Gill has a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders. Not only will his leadership skills be put to the Test, but his batting capabilities in hostile English conditions will also be under the scanner. Historically, Gill does not have a good track record in England, as he averages a shocking 14.66. However, his overall track record against England in the Test format is quite promising, to say the least. He maintains a healthy average of 37 and has two Test centuries against them. Unlike white-ball cricket, Gill hasn't quite had the same success in red-ball cricket, but his charismatic persona and calm temperament can surely help him win over the Poms in this must-win Test series for India. 

Karun Nair

The Karnataka-born Karun Nair has been hailed by many for his resounding resurgence in recent times. Back in 2016 England Test series at home, Karun took the world by storm by smashing a record-breaking triple ton. He became only the second Indian, after Virender Sehwag, to score a triple century in Test cricket. Karun burst onto the big stage with a lot of promise, but soon faded away from the grand scheme of things due to heightened competition and poor form. But the 33-year-old has scripted a remarkable recovery in the past 24 months. Karun has performed actively in the Indian domestic circuit in recent times, which has compelled the selectors to take cognizance of his current form. Moreover, he has also solidified his chances for his Test call-up by smashing a breathtaking double century (204 off 281) against England Lions during the first unofficial Test. 

Not a lot has gone in India's way following their memorable series win way back in 2007. India have lost three Test series there so far since 2007. However, in their last Test tour of 2021-22, India did manage to find some success, leveling a closely contested series by a margin of 2-2.