Watch: India hit Lord’s turf as Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja inspect Dukes ball ahead of England Tests

The India National Cricket Team has officially kicked off its preparations for the high-voltage five-match Test series against England at the iconic Lord’s. On Saturday, June 7, the Indian players took their first strides onto the historic turf, and by Sunday morning (June 8), the BCCI had already offered fans a thrilling glimpse of the action on its social media handle.

In the video shared by the BCCI on social media, the Indian team's intensity was on full display. It started with scenic shots of London, then cut sharply to Lord’s, where the team was seen warming up while enjoying football.

Dukes ball in focus as India begins prep at Lord's for England Test

The Indian players were seen engaged in some stretching and warm-up football at the indoor facilities of the Lord’s cricket ground. Later, the players were seen engaging in aggressive running drills and high-energy fielding in the video.

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The most interesting thing in the clip was how Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, and the rest of the support staff were deeply observing the Duke’s ball, which will be used in the upcoming five-match Test series, starting on June 20 at Lord’s.

Notably, the iconic Dukes ball is known as the unpredictable English weapon that swings deep into the innings and can make or break any batting lineup. The tourists were clearly studying the ball’s behavior, getting a feel for the extra seam and movement it offers that is completely different from the SG ball in India or the Kookaburra ball used in Australia.

Watch the viral video here:

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 ✅

First sight of #TeamIndia getting into the groove in England 😎#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/TZdhAil9wV

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 8, 2025

Meanwhile, the upcoming Test series in England is set to be a major challenge for Gautam Gambhir. The Indian head coach has already faced criticism for embarrassing Test series defeats against New Zealand at home and Australia away.

Ahead of the England tour, Gambhir had admitted that pressure is always part of the job. Whether the team wins or loses, the former Indian opener said that his goal is always to deliver strong results for the country.

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Gautam Gambhir’s real Test begins in England under Shubman Gill's captaincy

Gambhir was quoted as saying by CricketNext, “I am always under pressure. Regardless of whether I would’ve won the Champions Trophy or not. Because being the coach, you want the results. It does not change with winning or losing,’ Gambhir said. “I am always under pressure irrespective of whether we got the results or not.”

Even after winning the Champions Trophy 2025, Gambhir revealed that he continues to feel the weight of expectations and feels the pressure of delivering results, and now he has a tricky task in his hand, as the team is set to begin transition in Tests under Shubman Gill’s captaincy.

He signed off by saying, “If you had asked me this question after New Zealand, I would have said, ‘Yes, I am under pressure.’ After Australia, I would have said, ‘Yes, I am under pressure.’ After winning the Champions Trophy, I am still under pressure because, as the coach, you always want the results. Every game you are part of this team, you want to get the results for the country as simple as it can get.”