England vs India: Brendon McCullum will not take the visitors lightly

India may have arrived in the United Kingdom without the services of several seasoned campaigners such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Ravichandran Ashwin, but England head coach Brendon McCullum remains fully aware of the threat posed by the young and hungry Indian side. With a fresh-looking squad led by the dynamic Shubman Gill, India is gearing up for the highly anticipated five-match Test series against England, and McCullum isn’t taking them lightly. Shubman Gill, taking over the Test captaincy full-time following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from red-ball cricket last month, faces a significant challenge in his leadership debut.

The 25-year-old has shown maturity beyond his years and now carries the responsibility of guiding a relatively inexperienced side through a demanding tour in England. The series also marks India’s first assignment in the new World Test Championship cycle (2025–27), and Gill’s leadership will be under the spotlight as the team aims to lay a solid foundation early on.

"They're an outstanding cricketing nation, who will come here with high hopes, and we are looking forward to seeing them," stated England's head coach Brendon McCullum. 

After a dominant showing against the West Indies, where England secured convincing victories in both the three-match ODI and T20I series, the focus has now shifted to red-ball cricket. With momentum on their side, the Three Lions are gearing up for a demanding Test campaign, starting with the five-match series against India beginning on June 20. This series marks the beginning of a crucial phase for England in the longest format, as they aim to fine-tune their strategies and solidify their core ahead of the highly anticipated Ashes series later in the year. The team management will be looking to carry forward the confidence gained from their recent white-ball success into the Test arena. Facing a young and ambitious Indian side led by Shubman Gill, England will need to bring their best game to maintain their home dominance and set the tone for what promises to be a packed and challenging Test calendar.

"It's important the guys refresh. We know where we want to get to as a Test team," McCullum added. 

Brendon McCullum expressed his satisfaction with the progress of 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who is steadily making a name for himself across formats. The England head coach praised Bethell not only for his on-field performances but also for emerging as a promising leader within the dressing room—a quality that bodes well for the team's future. McCullum believes Bethell’s maturity and adaptability make him a valuable asset as England transitions into a new era of red-ball cricket.

In addition to Bethell, McCullum highlighted the talents of Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett as players to watch during the upcoming five-match Test series against India. Both cricketers have shown immense potential, and McCullum is hopeful they will seize their opportunities on the big stage. With a mix of youth and experience, England’s setup appears well-equipped for the challenges ahead, and McCullum is optimistic about the team’s direction under this emerging generation of players.