Table of Contents
With the highly anticipated five-match Test series between England and India set to begin on June 20, England opener Ben Duckett has expressed strong confidence in his side’s ability to triumph over the visiting Indian team. In a recent interview with Mail Sport, Duckett openly stated that England ‘should’ and ‘can’ beat India in the upcoming series, citing home advantage and England’s familiarity with their own conditions as key factors.
England’s struggles in past series and India’s historic challenges
India’s record in England has been historically poor, having managed only three Test series victories in the country since their first tour in 1932. Their most recent series win on English soil came in 2007 under Rahul Dravid’s leadership. Since then, India have suffered heavy defeats, including a 0-4 whitewash in 2011, a 1-3 loss in 2014, and a 1-4 defeat in 2018. In their last Test series in England, which was split across 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19 disruptions, the two teams ended with a 2-2 draw, with India failing to close out the series despite holding a 2-1 lead before the rescheduled final Test.
Despite these historical setbacks, India will enter the series with a strong squad featuring some of the world’s best batters and bowlers. However, Duckett remains unfazed, emphasizing that playing in English conditions is a completely different challenge for India compared to their dominance at home.
“India at home is very different to India away. It’s a side I feel we should beat and we can beat. It’ll be a good series,” Duckett asserted.
Facing Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami: Ben Duckett’s perspective
One of the biggest challenges for England’s top order in the upcoming series will be facing India’s world-class pace attack, particularly spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and experienced seamer Mohammed Shami. However, Duckett, who has faced Bumrah before in a full five-Test series, remains confident in his ability to handle the threat posed by India’s fast bowlers. Duckett also recalled his previous encounters with Shami, dating back to his maiden tour of India in 2016/17. Though he struggled in that series, managing only 18 runs in three innings, Shami never dismissed him.
“I’ve faced him in a five-Test series before. I know what he’s going to do to me, and the good thing about that is I know what skills he has. There’s going to be nothing that surprises me. It’s going to be challenging, and the red-ball skills of Mohammed Shami are just as threatening as Bumrah. But if I can get through that opening spell, I feel there are runs to be had,” Duckett concluded.
Also READ: Gautam Gambhir to accompany India ‘A’ on England tour ahead of senior team’s arrival
His confidence stems from his past experience facing Bumrah. In the last Test series between the two sides in the winter of 2024/25, Bumrah was rested for one game but still finished with 19 wickets at an astonishing average of 16.89. Meanwhile, Duckett was one of England’s top scorers in that series, accumulating 343 runs at 34.30, only behind Zak Crawley’s 407 runs. Notably, Bumrah dismissed Duckett only once in four Tests, clean-bowling him in spectacular fashion after the left-hander had already reached 47. In their direct encounters, Duckett scored 63 runs off 94 balls against Bumrah, showcasing his ability to counter the ace Indian pacer.
England vs India Test Series 2025 schedule
The much-anticipated Test series will begin at Headingley in Leeds on June 20, with the final Test scheduled to conclude in early August. The five-match series will be crucial for both teams in the ICC World Test Championship standings, as England aims to bounce back from recent struggles, while India looks to improve its record on English soil.
- First Test: June 20-24: Headingley, Leeds
- Second Test: June 28 – July 2: Lord’s, London
- Third Test: July 6-10: Trent Bridge, Nottingham
- Fourth Test: July 18-22: Old Trafford, Manchester
- Fifth Test: July 26 – August 1: The Oval, London
With both teams boasting world-class talent and England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach under Brendon McCullum being put to the test, the upcoming series promises to be a thrilling contest. Duckett’s confidence in his team’s ability to defeat India will soon be tested when the two cricketing giants lock horns in what is expected to be a high-intensity battle.
