India and England will start their new World Test Championship Cycle with a 5 -match series. The first match of this series will be played in Leeds from Friday. Meanwhile, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden believes that if India is successful in winning the match in Leeds and Manchester, then he will have a great chance to win the upcoming Test series against England. But former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn described England as 3–2 winning contender in the five-match series.

Hayden said on Jio Hotstar, ‘I don’t think the England bowlers are so good. Many of his bowlers are injured and many players have retired. This will be a big challenge for him. He said, ‘Test matches in northern England will be very important. If India wins these matches, then it can name the series.

Since the previous tour of India, two of the most experienced bowlers of the hosts, James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired from international cricket. Not only this, some of the leading England fast bowlers are injured. Fast bowler Mark Wood has dropped out of three Test matches at least at least the first due to injury. His fellow fast bowler Joffra Archer will not be able to play in the initial match and Gus Atkinson is recovering from the stretch in Hamstring.

Meanwhile, India will land on the field under the leadership of new captain Shubman Gill. In this way, India will start a new era after retirement of veterans like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin. Stan did not consider India to be lost, but described England as a contender for victory.

He said, ‘The Indian team is quite young. It can be said that England is going to win the series, but it is not going to happen without struggle. I think there will be one or two tests that India can name in its name. This veteran of South Africa said, ‘All matches will be close. But every match will result in the result. I think it will be 3-2 in favor of England.

Former Indian cricketers Deep Dasgupta and Sanjay Manjrekar also described England as contenders for victory in the series, but also said that the match would be very close.

Dasgupta said, ‘The Indian team is quite young and its captain is also young. The team is going through a change of change, which will benefit England a little. This (series) will be very close. I think England will win 3-2.

Manjrekar said, ‘I think England is in a better position to win the series. They are playing on their home ground and the Indian team is going through a change, so I think England can win this series.

Full schedule of test series
– First Test: 20-24 June, 2025 – Headingley, Leeds
– Second Test: 2-6 July, 2025 – Edgbaston, Birmingham
– Third Test: 10-14 July, 2025 – Lords, London
– Fourth Test: 23-27 July, 2025 – Old Trafford, Manchester
– Fifth Test: 31 July -4 August, 2025 – The Oval, London