India's Test record at Headingley, Leeds has been mixed, but there have been some memorable moments. India played their first Test here in 1952, in which England won by 7 wickets. Seven years later, in 1959, England again defeated India by an innings and 173 runs. In 1967, too, India had to face defeat by 6 wickets.
After three consecutive defeats, India got some relief by drawing the match in 1979. However, the real turning point came in 1986, when India won by a spectacular 279 runs. Kapil Dev's captaincy and Dilip Vengsarkar's innings were the foundation of that victory.
In 2002, India once again performed brilliantly on this ground. By defeating England by an innings and 46 runs, they proved that the team is no longer like the old days. Innings of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly had put India in a strong position. But after this, the story changed again in 2021. England defeated India by an innings and 76 runs. In that match, the Indian batting was completely shattered. In this way, in seven matches, India have won two, drawn two and lost three. Overall, this ground has not been easy for India, but when victory has come, it has come by a big margin.
India's Record In Test Matches At Headingley, Leeds:
| Winner | Result | Margin | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | Won | 7 wickets | 5 Jun 1952 |
| England | Won | Innings & 173 runs | 2 Jul 1959 |
| England | Won | 6 wickets | 8 Jun 1967 |
| – | Draw | – | 16 Aug 1979 |
| India | Won | 279 runs | 19 Jun 1986 |
| India | Won | Innings & 46 runs | 22 Aug 2002 |
| England | Won | Innings & 76 runs | 25 Aug 2021 |
About the Match: What to expect in ENG vs IND first Test?
Now the Test, which is starting from June 20, will be played in a completely different context from all the previous matches. After the retirement of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the team lacks experience, but the new leadership also brings a different energy. Shubman Gill now has a big chance to prove himself as a Test captain. The challenge will be more in the conditions of England, but India's bowling unit can hold on to the match on the strength of their fast bowlers.
The role of weather and pitch will also be important. The Headingley pitch favours fast bowlers early on, and India have options like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana. If India win the toss and bat first and lose early wickets, England's aggressive style could prove to be too much for them. The youngsters will have to shoulder the responsibility in batting—Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill will be the ones to watch out for. KL Rahul's performance in England and the return of Karun Nair to the Indian Test team will be under the spotlight.
I think India will put up a tough fight in this match, but to win, they will have to score a strong total in their first innings. If the team comes under pressure right from the start, England can take advantage of the home conditions and win. Still, if the bowlers maintain their composure and Gill's captaincy shows passion, India can win this Test as well. This match could be a new beginning of an era where India have set out to write something new, leaving behind their old records.
