England want to have a good surface to hit through the line against India: Leeds curator

Published - 18 Jun 2025, 17:11 IST | Updated - 18 Jun 2025, 17:29 IST

Leeds ground curator Richard Robinson revealed that England have asked for a good surface ahead of their first Test against India, set to begin on June 20. This marks India’s first red-ball encounter following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Robinson noted that the pitch is expected to assist pacers on the opening day before flattening out due to the anticipated heat. The surface is likely to favor England’s aggressive batting style but it could also level the playing field by giving India’s inexperienced lineup a chance to settle into the contest.

“They (England) just want to have a good surface so it’s true, really, so we can hit through the line of the ball. That’s really what they’re looking for,” Robinson said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Earlier, the 25-year-old Shubman Gill was appointed as India’s Test captain following Rohit’s retirement from red-ball cricket. Gill is set to become the 37th player to lead the nation in the format, with Rishabh Pant named vice-captain for the England tour.

The Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar stated that Gill’s move was based on his growth over the past two years. He emphasised that the decision was made with a long-term vision, entrusting Gill with the responsibility of guiding India through the next phase.

“You don’t pick captains for one or two tours. You want to invest in something that will help us going forward. You are hoping it’s the right call. You are seeing progress in the last year or two. It is going to be as tough as it gets. Maybe he’ll have to learn on the job. But we are very confident and that is the reason we have picked him,” Agarkar said.

Interestingly, Gill was not a sure starter in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024–25. In Rohit’s absence, Jasprit Bumrah stepped up to lead India in the first Test at Perth, guiding the team to a victory. But Bumrah’s campaign was affected when he sustained a back injury during the final Test in Sydney, ruling him out of action for three months.