The Leeds Thrill – Test Drama at its Best
The first Test between India and England at Headingley has truly captured the cricketing world’s spotlight. With twin centuries from KL Rahul (137) and Rishabh Pant (118), India set England an ambitious target of 371 in the fourth innings
Pant etched his name in history as the first Indian wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test match
His fearless and unconventional stroke play was praised by Ravi Shastri as having “a method to his madness”
KL Rahul, too, silenced critics with a spectacular knock, stating this format “hurts” but remains his stronghold
For England, fast bowler Josh Tongue has been bullish. With England at 21/0 backing a huge chase, Tongue affirmed the side’s belief: “We’ll just go for the win”
This gripping scenario, set against a possible record-breaking chase (their highest home chase since 1948), has reignited passion in Test cricket.
Bumrah vs England – The Battle of Prestige
Jasprit Bumrah continues to be a force. With a 5/83 haul at Headingley, he reminded everyone why he’s India’s premier pacer
His control and strike power prompted Nasser Hussain to liken him to Australian legend Shane Warne—“one of the two most enjoyable things in cricket”
Yet concerns remain: injury management looms large. Despite his aim to play three Tests, pundits — including Steve Harmison — want him available for all five Tests
Archer’s Comeback – A Dawn of Hope for England
In England’s domestic circuit, fast bowler Jofra Archer has made a long-awaited return to red-ball cricket, completing a 14-over spell for Sussex and claiming his first wicket in 1,501 days.
Archer’s figures—14 overs, 6 maidens, 1 for 28—demonstrate both fitness and intent .
His return is seen as a tactical move ahead of the Ashes: English counties will now use Kookaburra balls to mimic Australian conditions
England coach Neil Killeen and captain Ben Stokes have highlighted Archer’s mental readiness and expressed excitement that he may be in line for the Ashes squad
Trophy and Title: A New Era in India–England Test Rivalry
A major development off-the-field: the Test series will now be fought for the “Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy”, replacing the Pataudi and Anthony De Mello trophies
Honoring two legends—James Anderson (704 Test wickets) and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 Test runs)—this renaming cements both players’ legacies
The inaugural Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy series begins at Headingley, adding symbolic weight to the current face-off
South Africa’s World Test Triumph – Global Ripples
Meanwhile at Lord’s (June 11–14), the cricket world witnessed a landmark moment: South Africa ended a 27-year ICC title drought by defeating Australia in the World Test Championship Final
After chasing a modest 69, South Africa ended at 282/5. Opener Aiden Markram scored 136, supported by Temba Bavuma’s 66
This was South Africa’s first ICC trophy since 1998, a historic moment that ended their “choker” tag
Their victory also comes on the heels of an 8-match Test winning streak, half of which were away from home .
This triumph is reviving Test cricket’s global narrative and inspiring cricket across Africa.
IPL Euphoria and Its Consequences
Not long ago, the 2025 IPL final (June 3) in Ahmedabad saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) end an 18-year wait, beating Punjab Kings by 6 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in front of 90,871 attendees
The celebrations, however, turned tragic. A crowd crush in Bengaluru on June 4 resulted in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries during a felicitation ceremony
This heartbreaking incident has cast a somber cloud over IPL’s success, forcing organizers and local authorities to rethink crowd management strategies.
Domestic Restructure: England’s Player Welfare Move
Back home, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is overhauling its domestic season. County teams are voting to reduce Championship and T20 Blast matches to 12 each to combat player burnout
Two formats are on the table: either a 12-team split into pools with playoffs or a two-division system with fewer games
This comes after 83% of players cited excessive physical strain, and 67% noted poor mental health under current scheduling
This reform signals a serious shift towards sustainable cricket, and could reshape player development pathways.
Women’s Cricket & Inclusivity – Voices for Change
Earlier in June, cricket at Lord’s made history with the launch of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, highlighted by a groundbreaking female-led panel including Malala Yousafzai
The ECB aims to double attendance and make it the most-watched women’s cricket event ever.
Meanwhile in India, Anaya Bangar (daughter of Sanjay Bangar) is pushing the BCCI and ICC to open women’s cricket to transgender athletes, citing inclusion studies.
Her viral appeal has sparked global conversation around gender inclusivity in cricket.
Cricket’s Expansion: USA & Global T20 Growth
Cricket continues to spread its wings:
In the USA, Major League Cricket (MLC) expanded from 19 to 34 matches in 2025, signaling growing local interest.
The Global Super League (GSL), hosted by Cricket West Indies, returns to Guyana from July 10–18 with five super teams competing.
Australia begins a three-Test and five-T20I tour of the West Indies (June 25–July 28), including a Day-Night Test in Jamaica.
These steps illustrate cricket’s globalization, with new markets eager to embrace both Tests and T20.
🎤 Final Overs: Why June 2025 Marks a Cricketing Renaissance
This month isn’t just spilling runs and wickets—it’s transforming the game:
- Historic trophy hunts in both the WTC (South Africa) and IPL (RCB) while facing real-world aftermaths (crowd tragedy).
- Test cricket pulls off a resurgence with epic dramas at Headingley and Archer’s return boosting Ashes hopes.
- Gender and health reforms: ECB’s domestic overhaul and global calls for inclusivity signal progress.
- Expansion off-field: Cricket’s footprint grows across the USA, West Indies, and in global T20 circuits.
- We’re not just watching cricket—we’re witnessing its evolution. From record-breaking hat-tricks to policy shifts and inclusivity movements, June 2025 reads like a cricket renaissance narrative.
✍️ Your Turn: What’s Your Take?
What are you most excited about?
- Will England chase down 371 at Headingley?
- Can Bumrah stay fit enough to play all five Tests?
- What lasting impact will South Africa’s WTC win have?
- How will India address crowd safety after the Bengaluru tragedy?
- Will MLC finally spark cricket mania in the USA?