India faces England in the first Test at Leeds on June 20, 2025, marking the start of their new World Test Championship cycle and a new era for the Indian team, now led by Shubman Gill after the Test retirements of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The key question is: What will India's bowling attack look like?

Jasprit Bumrah, despite concerns about his back, is expected to lead the pace attack. Mohammed Siraj, with his experience in English conditions, is also likely to feature. The third seamer spot is where things get interesting. Prasidh Krishna's height and lateral movement make him a strong contender. Akash Deep, who can move the Duke ball both ways, is another option, especially if conditions favor swing bowling. Arshdeep Singh offers a left-arm option if the team wants variety.

The selection of a seam-bowling all-rounder is also crucial. Nitish Kumar Reddy, a rising star, is being encouraged by bowling coach Morne Morkel to take more bowling responsibility to complement his batting. Shardul Thakur, who has performed well in England previously, is the other contender. Morkel has emphasized the importance of versatility, especially in English conditions, hinting at Reddy's potential to provide a game-changing balance to the team. While Thakur brings experience, Reddy's potential as a genuine seam option could be valuable, particularly with overcast conditions expected.

Spin will also play a role. Ravindra Jadeja is almost certain to be the first-choice spinner, providing control and contributing with the bat. The second spinner could be Kuldeep Yadav. Former bowling coach Bharat Arun believes Kuldeep's wrist spin can be an attacking option, especially if the pitch has dampness or wears down. While Washington Sundar offers control as an off-spinning all-rounder, Kuldeep's ability to extract sharp turn and bounce makes him a potentially valuable asset.

Considering these factors, a possible bowling attack for the first Test could be:

• Jasprit Bumrah: The pace spearhead, expected to lead the attack.
• Mohammed Siraj: Experienced and expected to partner Bumrah.
• Prasidh Krishna/Akash Deep: One of them could be picked based on the pitch and weather conditions.
• Ravindra Jadeja: The premier spin all-rounder.
• Kuldeep Yadav: Wrist spin option to add variety.
• Nitish Kumar Reddy/Shardul Thakur: Seam bowling all-rounder based on the conditions and team balance.

With India's batting lineup in transition, the bowling attack will need to be at its best to keep England's batting in check. The conditions at Headingley, as well as the form of the bowlers in the warm-up matches, will ultimately determine the final composition of the bowling attack.