ENG vs IND 2025: Gautam Gambhir reunites with Indian squad in Leeds after returning from home

ENG vs IND 2025: Gautam Gambhir reunites with Indian squad in Leeds after returning from home. (Photo Source: Ankan Kar/X)

In a positive development, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has returned to England ahead of the first Test at the Headingley, Leeds. Gambhir, who had flown back to India to look after his ailing mother who had been in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) following a heart attack. Multiple reports have suggested that Gambhir’s mother has not yet fully recovered, but is in much better condition, which has given the head coach a sign to rejoin the squad for national duties.

With just a couple of days to go for the match day, the Indian squad arrived at the venue for their first practice session on June 18, and Gambhir was spotted alongside the squad after his check-in less than 24 hours ago. The arrival of the 43-year-old comes as a huge boost to for the Indian side, as his experience of playing in England is key since nearly half the squad is playing a series in the United Kingdom for the first time.

The fairly inexperienced squad of the visiting side is also in a period of a huge transition. The selectors recently appointed Shubman Gill as the new captain of the red-ball side, following the shock retirements of the veteran duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – his predecessors. Rishabh Pant will be Gill’s deputy, and this will be the first-ever series that India plays with a new squad.

Harshit Rana added to India squad for Leeds Test

Meanwhile, the Indian team added Harshit Rana to their squad ahead of the first Test. The pace bowler’s addition reportedly comes amid a set of players from the original squad facing injury concerns. Rana, who was a part of India A squad for a couple of games against England Lions and the intra-squad match against the senior side, was asked to stay back even as the tour ended. He is now likely to return home following the Headingley encounter.

India updated squad (Only 1st Test): Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Karun Nair, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Shardul Thakur, Abhimanyu Easwaran, B Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel & Harshit Rana

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