IND vs ENG Tests: What time is India vs England 1st Test match starting? Date and full session timings for Headingley Test

Ishika Dadhwal

IND vs ENG Tests: What time is India vs England 1st Test match starting? Date and full session timings for Headingley Test image

India’s next red-ball era officially kicks off June 20 at Headingley, where they’ll face England in the first Test of a five-match series that launches the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle for both sides.

The tour will span five iconic English venues, Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and the Oval, but for India, it’s about more than just a new WTC campaign.

Shubman Gill steps in as India’s new Test captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement, with Rishabh Pant named his deputy. It’s Gill’s first full overseas assignment as skipper, and he won’t have Virat Kohli alongside him either, Kohli recently called time on his storied red-ball career.

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With the old guard officially out, this series isn’t just about wins, it’s a hard reset. And against an England side known for aggressive home tactics, Gill’s leadership will face a baptism by fire right from Day 1 in Leeds.

When is the IND vs ENG Tests?

The IND vs ENG Tests will start with Day 1 on June 20, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude with Day 5 on July 31, 2025. The Kennington Oval in London will host the thrilling finale. 

What time does the IND vs ENG Tests start in India and Australia?

For Indian fans, the match begins at 3:30 p.m. IST, with the toss scheduled for 3:00 p.m. IST.

For fans in Australia, the match begins at 8:00 p.m. AEST with the toss at 7:30 p.m. AEST.

For local UK fans, the start time is at 11:00 a.m., and the toss is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

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What are the session timings for IND vs ENG Tests at Headingley?

The daily schedule of play for the IND vs ENG Tests will feature three sessions.

Here's the precise timings in IST and BST:

SessionUK time (BST)India time (IST)
1st Session11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Lunch1:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.5:30 p.m. – 6:10 p.m.
2nd Session1:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.6:10 p.m. – 8:10 p.m.
Tea Break3:40 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.8:10 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
3rd Session4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Additionally, an extra 30 minutes may be added each day to ensure all scheduled overs are completed.

Ishika Dadhwal

Ishika Dadhwal is a writer and editor with over four years of experience covering the NFL, NBA, WNBA, Cricket and Soccer. She’s currently an editor at The Sporting News and previously worked in an editorial capacity at Reach PLC, with additional stints at Sportskeeda and EssentiallySports. Her bylines have appeared in The Mirror and Pro Football Network. A passionate Patrick Mahomes fan, Ishika brings the same love for bold plays and sharp execution to her editorial work. Outside the newsroom, she loves dancing, painting, and turning everyday moments into little vlogs.