Matthew Hayden has thrown his weight behind India's chances in the upcoming Test series against England, which commences on June 20, 2025, at Headingley, Leeds. Contrary to many experts writing off the young Indian side, Hayden believes that Shubman Gill's men have a good opportunity to surprise the hosts.
India enters this five-match Test series, which also marks the beginning of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle, undergoing a significant transition. Stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin have recently retired from the red-ball format, and experienced pacer Mohammed Shami is sidelined due to fitness concerns. This has resulted in a relatively inexperienced 18-man squad, led by the 25-year-old Shubman Gill.
Despite the absence of seasoned players, Hayden sees a window of opportunity for India, particularly in the northern Test venues. He emphasized the importance of winning Tests in Leeds and Manchester, where the conditions typically favor seam bowlers. According to Hayden, adapting quickly to these challenging conditions and securing victories could unexpectedly swing the series in India's favor. India has not won a Test series in England since 2007.
Hayden downplayed the strength of England's current bowling attack, noting their struggles with injuries and recent retirements. Several key English pacers are currently unavailable. Mark Wood has been ruled out of at least the first three Tests, Jofra Archer is still recovering, and Gus Atkinson is nursing a hamstring injury. England have included 19-year-old Eddie Jack in the squad.
Hayden stated that England's bowling attack "aren't that good" and that the numerous injuries and retirees within the English side will be a challenge for them. He further added that the "northern Test matches when it's zipping around that will be key, win that one and it could well be a series that goes India's way".
While Hayden is optimistic about India's chances, not everyone shares his sentiment. Former Indian cricketers Deep Dasgupta and Sanjay Manjrekar have suggested that England might have a slight edge, citing their home advantage and India's transitional phase. Dasgupta predicted a 3-2 series win for England, while Manjrekar believes England "might just pull this off."
