Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur is confident that the team has what it takes to win the upcoming five-Test series against England, which kicks off in Leeds on Friday. Thakur was also part of the squad during India’s 2021-22 tour of England. Back then, India had taken a 2-1 lead in the series, but the final Test was postponed to the following year due to Covid-19.
With regular skipper Rohit Sharma unavailable, India lost the rescheduled match, resulting in a 2-2 series draw. Now, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from Test cricket, a younger Indian side under newly appointed captain Shubman Gill faces a formidable task in English conditions.
England.
Shardul Thakur.
He surely knows a thing or two! 👌👌#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @imShard pic.twitter.com/NAY9HCv7rh— BCCI (@BCCI) June 17, 2025
“I think it’s very exciting to play in this part of the world where you face different challenges. The first challenge is the weather. Sometimes it’s cloudy, sometimes it’s bright sunny, and as a player, you need to adjust your game, whether you’re batting or bowling,” the pace-bowling all-rounder said in a video posted on BCCI’s social media accounts.
“It’s good to have fresh energy in the team. New youngsters are coming in and new talents are always exciting. The England team is also playing a different kind of cricket, so we like to surprise them also. We are here to put on a show. It is also great to win an away series, away from the home and if we could achieve this feat, it would be massive for the entire nation,” he added.
Shardul Thakur Calls England Tour One Of His Fondest Memories
Reflecting on India’s previous Test tour of England, Shardul Thakur described it as “one of the fondest memories” of his career. He featured in three matches during the series, claiming eight wickets and hitting two fifties in the fourth Test.
“In the 2021 series, we won a couple of games. We could have won the first one, but unfortunately, it rained on the last day, and we couldn’t chase the total. But then we won at Lord’s and The Oval before returning for the fifth Test next year. The series ended level, but it was one of the best Test series, one of the fondest I have been part of,” he recalled.
India is targeting its first Test series victory in England since 2007. The upcoming five-match series also marks the team’s opening challenge in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
