India’s preparations for the upcoming five-match Test series against England have received a timely boost, with head coach Gautam Gambhir rejoining the squad in Leeds.
Gambhir was back at Headingley on June 18, overseeing the team’s training sessions alongside his coaching staff as they gear up for the series opener beginning June 20.
following a medical emergency involving his mother, who had been hospitalised after a heart attack. As a result, he missed the team’s three-day warm-up fixture in Beckenham, which featured both the senior Test squad and the India A contingent. His mother’s condition has since improved, allowing the coach to reunite with the team just two days before the first Test.
In his absence, the training responsibilities were handled by assistant coaches Ryan ten Doeschate and Sitanshu Kotak, with bowling coach Morne Morkel also playing a key role. They were given added support by India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar and VVS Laxman, who was also in England as part of the A team’s setup.
This series will mark the beginning of India’s World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 campaign, and expectations are high from the new leadership duo-head coach Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill. The team will be looking to bounce back after recent disappointments, including a home series loss to New Zealand and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat against Australia.
Despite their strong 4-1 Test series win over England earlier this year at home, the upcoming away challenge presents a different test altogether. Both sides will be keen to make a strong start to the new WTC cycle, adding further weight to the Leeds opener.