"That will be our opportunity" - Aakash Chopra on England's squad for ENG vs IND 2025 1st Test

Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has opined that the England squad for the first Test against India does not have a very potent bowling lineup. He reckoned that the visitors have an opportunity to make the most of that weakness.

The first Test of the five-match series between India and England will be played in Leeds from June 20 onwards. The England selectors recently announced a 14-member squad for the series opener.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that England don't have a formidable bowling attack as they are missing some of their established seamers.

"England have announced their team. The batting is looking good. However, in bowling, there is no Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. So this team's bowling is not that strong, and that will be our opportunity," he said (6:25).

On the flip side, Chopra acknowledged that the hosts have a strong batting lineup.

"However, the batting is good, from Zak Crawley to Ben Duckett to Harry Brook. Jacob Bethell is also there. Ben Stokes, of course, Joe Root, Ollie Pope. So it's a slightly celebrated batting lineup, in which Ben Stokes will come at No. 6. He doesn't come before that," he observed.

Jacob Bethell might not get a place in England's playing XI for the first Test against India. Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes will likely form their top six, with Jamie Smith playing at No. 7 as the wicketkeeper-batter.

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"I think it's their batting vs our batting" - Aakash Chopra on the potential contest in ENG vs IND 2025 1st Test

India will be without the retired Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in their batting department. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that the contest in the first Test will be between the two sides' batting lineups.

"The batting has the might, and it will challenge India. Bowling is decent. Chris Woakes has also come. Sam Cook and Josh Tongue are there. Jamie Overton has been recalled, and Shoaib Bashir is also there. For the Headingley Test match, I think it's their batting vs our batting," he said (7:00).

To conclude, the analyst reckoned that India are stronger in the bowling department, although he acknowledged that Jofra Archer might be available for the last four Tests.

"I feel our bowling will be slightly better if we were to compare man to man. Their batting is looking more solid and experienced than ours. The news has also come that Jofra might be available from the second Test match onwards," Chopra observed.

Jofra Archer injured his thumb while playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025. He didn't rejoin the RR squad when the tournament resumed after a few days' suspension and was ruled out of England's recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies.