Table Of Contents
Date: June 18, 2026 Venue: Lord's Cricket Ground, London
The wait is finally over. After the high-octane T20 World Cup and the IPL, the focus shifts back to the red ball. Shubman Gill’s Team India has arrived in London to take on England in the first Test of the 5-match series.
This series is crucial for the WTC 2025-27 Cycle. While England’s Bazball philosophy has evolved under the leadership of Ollie Pope (standing in for Stokes), India enters a new era with a younger, aggressive core.
However, both camps are dealing with significant injury blows ahead of the Lord's opener. Here is the full roundup of team news, injury updates, and predicted XIs.
India: The Pace Bowling Crisis. The biggest setback for India is the absence of Mohammed Shami. The veteran pacer has been ruled out of the first two Tests due to a recurring ankle flare-up.
England: Stokes in Doubt. England’s talisman Ben Stokes is racing against time. Reports from the ECB suggest he might play as a pure batter due to his knee management, but his bowling is highly unlikely. If Stokes misses out entirely, Jordan Cox or Dan Lawrence could slot into the middle order.
1. The No. 5 Conundrum (India) With KL Rahul out, India has a massive decision to make.
2. The Spin Department. In English conditions, playing two spinners is a luxury.
3. England’s Opener Choice, Ben Duckett, is a certainty, but Zak Crawley’s form has been patchy. However, England’s loyalty to their aggressive openers suggests they will stick with the same pair.
🇮🇳 India Predicted XI:
Akash Deep / Prasidh Krishna
England Predicted XI:
More Links
FANTASY CRICKET TIPS
