June 25, 2025
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India vs England

Ajit Agarkar shut outside noise, showed faith in Yashasvi Jaiswal when everyone else turned a blind eye: 'They spoke...'

Ajit Agarkar shut outside noise, showed faith in Yashasvi Jaiswal when everyone else turned a blind eye: ‘They spoke…’

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He is just 23, but the legend of Yashasvi Jaiswal continues to grow. First West Indies, then Australia, and now, England. The young bloke has a century against most of the top teams he has played. India’s sole saving grace of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, much was expected of Jaiswal to fill the void left by legends Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma. And the manner in which he has started the tour of England, the little man is on his way towards greatness. In the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, Jaiswal pummelled his fifth Test century, third against this team, to drive India into a strong position. After opposition captain Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to field first – a call that will surely be debated – Jaiswal made the most of the opportunity, scoring a magnificent 101 in his first Test in England. Yashasvi Jaiswal has enjoyed a tremendous start to his Test career.(AP) Also Read: India vs England 1st Test Day 1 As it happened It’s rather unreal to think that it was in August two years ago that Jaiswal made his Test debut for India. From becoming India’s 17th batter to score a hundred on debut, Jaiswal has rapidly climbed through the ranks. So much so that less than 24 months later, he is being talked about as one of the next ‘Fab Four’ of world cricket. A lot of people deserve credit for Jaiswal’s meteoric rise – none more than his father and coach, Jwala Singh. Behind the scenes, too, a lot of effort from the most unexpected folks goes unnoticed, and one such individual is Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI chairman of selectors, who recognised Jaiswal’s potential when most turned a blind eye. Also Read: Yashasvi Jaiswal requests captain Shubman Gill to stop him mid-innings, says ‘Meri aadat hai josh mein aane ki’ “I must say… about two years back, when Jaiswal was getting all those runs in India, Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, said Jaiswal has something special when everybody was talking about the other batters. Today he hasn’t let the chairman of selectors down,” former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar said during the tea break, when Jaiswal was 100 not out and had taken India to 215/2. What Yashasvi Jaiswal stands out Jaiswal is being touted as a generational talent by many former cricketers. While Jaiswal was in his 90s, he remained focussed, very much within himself, even as he battled painful cramps. The celebration said a lot about what was going on inside Jaiswal’s head. There’s something about first Test matches in overseas conditions for him. He scored 161 at Perth, and here’s another good hundred. In Australia, he was a standout performer, scoring over 300 runs, and although it’s just the beginning, he seems to have taken batting in England like a fish to water. A batter can survive without having a good defensive technique in Australia, but in places like England, South Africa and New Zealand, it’s unimaginable. Jaiswal has the requisites to play off the new ball – Dukes or the Kookaburra ball. Besides, his knack of getting daddy hundreds. He has converted two of his five Test hundreds into double-centuries and has knocks of 171 and 161 to show for his marathon traits.  And to think that he is just 23 years old. Beware England, the new guard is here to take over.

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KL Rahul's 'unfair treatment' triggers debate; 'Come on, it's been a decade'; Manjrekar disagrees; 'Nobody would dare…'

KL Rahul’s ‘unfair treatment’ triggers debate; ‘Come on, it’s been a decade’; Manjrekar disagrees; ‘Nobody would dare…’

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KL Rahul triggered a bit of a debate between former India cricketers Deep Dasgupta and Sanjay Manjrekar. The debate wasn’t heated, nor did it stretch, but Manjrekar and Dasgupta had different things to say about how Rahul’s international career – especially Test – had shaped up since his debut 11 years ago. Rahul has played 58 Tests for India, but with 3257 runs, averages 33.57, a figure considered a tad poor given someone of his experience. Be it due to injury or form, Rahul has been in and out of the team way too many times, something that has hampered his numbers. But Dasgupta, instead of blaming Rahul for his performances, held the BCCI responsible for treating the Indian batter unfairly. Do you think KL Rahul deserves a longer run at a fixed position?(AP) Also Read: India vs England Live Score, 1st Test Day 1, Headingley “See, I just hope they give him a permanent position now. He made his debut in 2014. It’s been more than a decade, but we still don’t know where does he fit into the Indian Test side? Is he a middle-order batter? Is he an opener? I think it’s about time to tell him, ‘KL, you’ve got to play this series or whatever, and you’re going to play as an opener. This is what you’re going to do. And I think once you give him that position, that security, we will see a different KL Rahul,” Dasgupta said while speaking on Star Sports ahead of the start of India’s first innings of the Headingley Test against England. Also Read: Virat Kohli’s absence felt even before first ball is bowled in IND vs ENG Test: ‘Moved on from Gavaskar, Sachin but…’ “As of now, in every series,Virat Kohli’s absence felt even before first ball is bowled in IND vs ENG Test: ‘Moved on from Gavaskar, Sachin but…’ it’s like KL Rahul is trying to cement his position from one series to the next. You need a wicketkeeper in South Africa, call him. You need a No. 5, call him. Opener? Yes. So that’s something I think is being quite unfair on him. It’s been a decade now. Come on. Give him that series, maybe more than that and tell him this is how we are looking at you – as an opener – and play him.” Sanjay Manjrekar contradicts As Dasgupta pointed out, Rahul has been the perennial floater for the Indian team across formats. In Tests alone, he has moved up and down the batting order more than anyone else. As opener, Rahul has scored 2815 runs, and 234 runs from the six Tests he has batted at No. 6. Manjrekar did not see eye-to-eye with either Dasgupta or his judgment, pointing out the flaw in Rahul’s career all these years. “Am I allowed to contradict? I will be nice. I believe KL Rahul has not shown the kind of consistency that’s expected of him at any position. Had this been a guy who averaged 52 as an opener, nobody would dare drop him to No. 4 or 5. Having said that, huge responsibility on him. And Deep, given your assessment of leaving the balls, we’ll see how Rahul goes about it today,” said Manjrekar. With Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Rahul has another fine opportunity to solidify himself as India’s opener along with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

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Hindustan Times Cricket

IND vs ENG LIVE Updates: Gill remains the epicentre as India begin life post Kohli, Rohit for Anderson-Tendulkar trophy

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IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: A lot will ride on captain Shubman Gill. IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: The clouds have cleared, the sun is out, and Headingley stands ready to kick off what promises to be a feisty five-Test series between England and a new-look Indian side. India arrive without two of their biggest modern icons in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who both retired from the format last month. For the first time in a decade, India’s XI will not feature either name. That alone makes this series significant. But what raises the intrigue further is the appointment of 25-year-old Shubman Gill as captain, a bold call by the new regime led by Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar.…Read More Gill’s Test numbers, 1893 runs in 32 matches at 35.06, don’t scream authority yet. But leadership is about more than stats, and India will hope that Gill’s experience from his Gujarat Titans captaincy stint over the past two years translates into steel in England’s challenging conditions. It won’t be the first time Gill will captain the senior team, though; he previously led the T20I team during its tour of Zimbabwe last year. The first Test is being played on a dry Headingley pitch. While not your usual English green-top, it’s still a surface that will aid movement, especially in the first session. That could work to India’s advantage, particularly with the firepower of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj up front. Bumrah, however, is expected to feature in only three of the five Tests, his workload being managed carefully. England, for their part, have gone with a predictable XI. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett at the top, followed by Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook. Jamie Smith keeps the gloves, while captain Ben Stokes slots in at six. The bowling attack comprises Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir, competent, but not the sort of line-up that will strike fear like Anderson and Broad once did. India’s XI remains unconfirmed, though strong indications suggest Karun Nair is set for a return, potentially at No.3. Rishabh Pant confirmed a day before the Test that he will bat at four, while the wicketkeeper-batter will continue at five. The No.6 position is up for grabs; will India back debutant Sai Sudharsan, or opt for an extra all-rounder like Nitish Reddy or Shardul Thakur? Then there’s the spin conundrum. Ravindra Jadeja’s batting utility makes him a tempting pick, but Kuldeep Yadav’s ability to turn the ball on any surface might give him the edge. Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep remain in contention for the third seamer’s spot, all three bringing different styles to the table. Gautam Gambhir, known for his aggressive mindset and no-nonsense decisions, has a lot riding on this series. His first Test season as India’s head coach didn’t go according to plan, with India facing an unprecedented 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand before facing a 3-1 defeat to Australia Down Under. Before Gambhir, India had looked set to book a place in a third successive World Test Championship final, but the side eventually finished third on the points table. As India kick off a new cycle in the WTC – with a new captain at the helm, too – Gambhir will look for a much-improved performance. The two captains will appear for the toss at 3 PM IST, with the play beginning thirty minutes later. Follow all the updates here: June 20, 2025 12:10 PM IST IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: England’s Playing XI is out IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: England captain Ben Stokes has stuck with their tradition of revealing the Playing XI on match eve. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett return as openers, followed by Ollie Pope and the immovable Joe Root at No. 3 and 4, respectively. Harry Brook, talked about as one of the next big things in world cricket, preferably a contender for the Next Fab Four, takes his place at five. At No. 6 is the skipper himself, Stokes, who would be eyeing revenge for India’s 4-1 drubbing of England last year. Jamie Smith is the wicketkeeper before we head into the bowling line-up. The returning Chris Woakes provides experience to an otherwise young-looking fast bowling line-up – Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. Shoaib Bashir is the lone spinner, unless Root can roll his arms over. June 20, 2025 12:00 PM IST IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: Dawn of a new era for Team India IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: Old things always pave way for the new, and this adage cannot be any truer for the Indian cricket team. The old guard has gone – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin have retired – and a fresh bunch of youngsters have stepped in – Shubman Gill is the captain, and Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh have received their maiden Test call-ups. Indian cricket is in the middle of one of their most exciting transition phases, and that’s what makes this tour all the more fascinating. On paper, no one is giving India a chance, but if history has taught us anything, it is that India has its best opportunity. Who remembers India’s tour of Australia 2020-21, where, without the experienced pros, the team drew in Sydney and pulled off famous wins in Melbourne and the Gabba to script history? Yes, there’s no Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara, but India will be buoyed by the presence of Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul and the incomparable Jasprit Bumrah. June 20, 2025 11:50 AM IST IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: When did India vs England become such a big deal? IND vs ENG Live Updates, India vs England Test Series: Until the 1990s, India’s tour of England was looked at as just another overseas…

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Leeds weather forecast, India vs England 1st Test: Rain to disrupt proceedings after 'sunny' prediction at Headingley?

Leeds weather forecast, India vs England 1st Test: Rain to disrupt proceedings after ‘sunny’ prediction at Headingley?

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As Shubman Gill gears up to lead India in his first Test as captain, the skies over Headingley may have a say in how this new era begins. With the first of five Tests between India and England set to begin on Friday in Leeds, overcast conditions and intermittent rain are expected to cast a shadow over proceedings through the weekend. Rain could hamper proceedings at Headingley in the 1st Test(X) According to AccuWeather, Days 2 and 3 could witness afternoon showers, while light evening showers are likely on Day 4, too. Though Days 1 and 5 are expected to remain clear, the constant cloud cover and moisture could significantly impact playing conditions, favouring seamers and testing the batters’ patience and technique. It is expected that the first day will have minimal cloud cover, with a rare sunny day on the cards in Leeds. In such conditions, India may be tempted to go in with four seamers, a move well-suited to the prevailing weather. The choice of a lone spinner could come down to Ravindra Jadeja’s utility and batting strength, Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin threat, or Washington Sundar’s dual value with bat and ball. The surface and overhead conditions could dictate terms more than pre-series planning. India players’ County experience Several members of the Indian squad will draw confidence from their recent county experiences. Gill, who played for Glamorgan in 2022, made an instant impression, scoring 244 runs in just four innings at an average of 61.00, including a classy 119. Karun Nair, who is likely to feature prominently in the middle order, had a prolific stint with Northamptonshire, 736 runs in 14 innings at 56.61, including a double century. Sai Sudharsan too had solid exposure with Surrey, scoring 281 runs across two seasons. Among bowlers, Arshdeep Singh’s experience with Kent, where he picked up 13 wickets, and Sundar’s stint with Lancashire, 8 wickets and a five-for, could prove valuable in adjusting quickly to the demands of English pitches. As Gill leads a refreshed Indian unit into a series where conditions could swing momentum by the hour, the test isn’t just against England; it would be against the English summer itself.

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Team India's predicted XI vs England, H2H stats, most runs, most wickets: All you need to know ahead of 1st Test

Team India’s predicted XI vs England, H2H stats, most runs, most wickets: All you need to know ahead of 1st Test

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The five-Test series between England and India, starting June 20 at Headingley, marks a defining moment for both teams, but more so for India, who step into the longest format without three of their era-defining greats: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Their sudden retirement announcements have forced a hard reset, with Shubman Gill now leading a side full of youthful promise. Indian captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir during a practice session ahead of the first Test cricket match against England(PTI) Gautam Gambhir remains at the helm of the generational transition, as India look to build their next red-ball core. Gill, 25, becomes the country’s youngest Test captain since Sachin Tendulkar and will be under scrutiny as he tries to stitch together a cohesive unit from a group full of exciting potential but short on experience in English conditions. England, meanwhile, are continuing their Bazball experiment under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. They’ve named a batting-heavy XI for the opener, which could be both a show of confidence and a gamble against an Indian attack led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The last time these two sides met in England was during the unfinished 2021–22 series, which India led 2-1 before the fifth Test was postponed. England bounced back to draw the series 2-2 with a record chase at Edgbaston in 2022. India haven’t won a Test series in England since 2007, and with an unproven top-order and several selection headaches, such as Karun Nair’s return, Sai Sudharsan’s possible debut, and the makeup of the bowling attack, this opener at Headingley will be a litmus test of Gill’s leadership and Gambhir’s tactical nous. India Predicted XI vs England, 1st Test Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul Middle-order: Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk) All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav India vs England H2H record in Tests Team India has faced England on 136 occasions in the longest format, clinching victories in 35 Tests, while losing 51. Their last Test series ended in a 4-1 win for India at home, though. In England, both teams have squared off in 67 Tests, with England winning 36 Tests. India have won 9. In the previous Test series on English soil, however, India performed impressively, taking a 2-1 lead after four matches before the final Test was postponed to next year due to Covid-19 concerns. England eventually won the fifth Test at Edgbaston to draw 2-2.  In their last 10 Tests, India hold a superior record with six wins and a draw. India vs England: Most runs, most wickets Joe Root holds the record for most runs in Test matches between the two countries, with 2846 runs to his name. Sachin Tendulkar is the highest among Indians and the second-highest overall, with 2535 runs. Joe Root (England) – 2846 Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 2535 Sunil Gavaskar (India) – 2483 Alastair Cook (England) – 2431 Virat Kohli (India) – 1991 James Anderson, meanwhile, leads the wicket-taking list by a fair margin in Tests between India and England, with 149 dismissals to his name. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin is second with 114 wickets. Interestingly, none of the cricketers in the squads across both teams feature in the top 5 in the highest wicket-takers lists. James Anderson (England) – 149 Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 114 Bhagwath Chandrashekhar (India) – 95 Anil Kumble (India) – 92 Bishan Singh Bedi (India) – 85

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India vs England: Gill’s baptism of fire marks India’s new start

India vs England: Gill’s baptism of fire marks India’s new start

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Kolkata: No Virat Kohli, no Rohit Sharma, no Ravichandran Ashwin, no Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah available for only three Tests—Shubman Gill’s captaincy debut is expected to be nothing less than a baptism of fire as India take on an unpredictable England in a five-Test series starting at Headingley, Leeds, on Friday. Skipper Shubman Gill during practice on the eve of first Test in Leeds on Friday. (Action Images via Reuters) Playing England in England hasn’t always been comforting. And to compound the discomfort, the first Test is at Headingley where India were dismissed for 78 the last time they had played there. Leeds has been unusually warm, meaning the pitch may not be as moisture laden as in the past. But since history finds strange ways of repeating itself, India can’t take the conditions for granted. Technique will be paramount to surviving and flourishing in England. India, however, have deeper worries as they try to figure out the top-order. Gill will bat at No. 4, vice-captain Rishabh Pant at 5, meaning KL Rahul is most likely to accompany Yashasvi Jaiswal as opening batter. That leaves Karun Nair as the most plausible No. 3 even though the uncapped B Sai Sudharsan has done enough and more to throw his hat into the ring. If Nair returns after eight years, it would be a remarkable comeback fuelled by stellar domestic performance, including multiple centuries in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, a double century for India A, and a strong county stint with Northamptonshire. Nevertheless, it’s possibly the first time in over two decades that India have had to stretch themselves over their one-down option. Between Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, and then Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, India were never made to feel the sting of transition. That said, the last one year of Test cricket hasn’t been too pretty for India despite the presence of Kohli and Sharma. A rare home series defeat to New Zealand followed by a sobering loss in Australia possibly expedited the need for new blood and new combinations. It’s a punt that India had to take some day. Away from the comfort of home, Gill will usher in a new era. The pitches in England have flattened out to cater to their inimitable style of batting, so Indians too should find scoring relatively easy. But the fickle overhead conditions continue to be an unsung supporter of seam bowling. This is where the relative inexperience could be ruthlessly exposed. The good thing is that Gill isn’t too perturbed. “A lot of people talk about, you know, our side is not experienced, but there are also positives that we don’t really have any baggage coming to England, because not all of the players have really been to England,” said Gill on Thursday. “So that could be one thing that really makes a difference for us because we wouldn’t be carrying any baggage.” The same can’t be said about England. Their liberating brand of cricket, though entertaining, isn’t pretty when they start losing the plot. Which is why England have won 23 and lost 12 Tests since Ben Stokes became captain with Brendon McCullum as coach. “We know that when we are on top of teams, we are very, very good,” Stokes told the BBC. “And where we maybe have let ourselves down in the past over the last three years is when we have been behind the game, we’ve not given ourselves the best chance of wresting ourselves back into the game, and that’s an area that we have looked at and know that we need to get better at if we want to end up being where we want to end up being as a team.” First-innings runs have been an issue for India, considering they have crossed 300 only twice in 10 innings over the past year, but Gill is not in favour of sacrificing bowling edge. “You can’t win a Test match without taking 20 wickets no matter how many runs you score,” he said. “So, that has been one of our key discussion points, you know, how we’re gonna take 20 wickets. And there might be a case, you know, where we could only be going with some pure batters and you could see a bowling allrounder and three to four premier fast bowlers or proper bowlers.” While that outlook may sound brave right now, it remains to be seen how India react to a batting implosion or worse, a defeat at Leeds. Too ingrained in India’s touring psychology is the tendency of packing the 11 with batting options, a tactic that failed miserably in Australia a few months back. This is a new captain though, hopefully armed with a new philosophy that can build on the positives of the past. “The blueprint that we got from our seniors in the last 5-10 years, we can win anywhere and we will try to follow that same confidence and blueprint,” said Gill. “And, as I said, if your team has a very good environment, players feel very secure and confident and they know what their role is. So, we want to create that environment in the team. And if we succeed in creating that environment, I think our Test series and the WTC cycle will be very successful.”

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Gill has improved massively in the past 12 months as captain: Nehra

Gill has improved massively in the past 12 months as captain: Nehra

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Mumbai: Like several far-reaching decisions in Indian cricket successfully tried out first in the Indian Premier League (IPL) – such as appointing Rohit Sharma captain, the emergence of Jasprit Bumrah as a world beater and Suryakumar Yadav the T20 batting marauder – the national selectors would hope Shubman Gill’s ascent to Test captaincy will also come good. Gujarat Titans’ captain Shubman Gill in conversation with coach Ashish Nehra during IPL 2025. (AP) Gill will become the fifth youngest Indian captain – counting Ravi Shastri’s solitary Test – when he walks out for the toss at Leeds on Friday in the first of the five-Test India-England series to be broadcast on Sony Sports Network. Gill cut his teeth as captain for Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL. “From his first year as captain, there has been a massive difference in Shubman the captain in the past twelve months,” Ashish Nehra, GT head coach, told a select group of media of which HT was a part. “He might have been a little shy and introverted before, but he has improved a lot. He communicates better with his bowlers. In between, he has also gained international experience.” Leading in Test cricket will present an entirely different set of challenges. But Nehra believes he has already shown traits of being calm under pressure. “I personally rate him that’s why we made him a captain,” said Nehra. “He is a quick learner, a confident guy. He has his own mind which is great. I feel in Test and ODI cricket you get a little more time. In T20 cricket, you need to be even more calm. Shubman is very calm for his age, very mature for a 25–year-old.” For GT, Gill was elevated as captain after Hardik Pandya’s surprise transfer to Mumbai Indians. The first year was a learning curve with Gill himself saying it took him time to compartmentalise batting and captaincy. Leading India would bring its own pressures. It would help if Gill has runs to show because that is the quickest way to earn the respect from teammates. “If the top three score runs, that will make life easy for Shubman at No. 4 and the rest of the batting line up. Of course, you feel more confident as a batter when you score runs,” said Nehra. “He will have his own expectations with himself. The way I see it, it’s not just about the results, it’s what sort of cricket they play. There have been recent series in England where India played a lot better than the scorecard suggested. So, it will be key to play good and exciting cricket.” With India’s batting thin on experience, Bumrah’s role as the leader of the pace pack and how Gill is able to maximise his impact while managing his workload will be of huge interest. “On Bumrah’s workload, the judge won’t be Gill, it will be the fast bowler himself,” said Nehra. “I have been hearing that Bumrah will play the 1st, 3rd and the 5th Test. But what if it rains in the first Test? You can’t make these plans well in advance. Who knows, he may feel good to play back-to-back Tests. “On some occasions, we have seen Bumrah picking up five wickets in 12-13 overs. That’s how skilful he is. It’s the bowler who will tell the physio and the captain on how his body is coping. You can’t script this. This is not a movie.”

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IND vs ENG: Alastair Cook's big statement on Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma exit - 'Now there's a clean slate in Indian dressing room' | Cricket News

IND vs ENG: Alastair Cook’s big statement on Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma exit – ‘Now there’s a clean slate in Indian dressing room’ | Cricket News

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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (AFP Photo) As India step into a new era under Shubman Gill’s leadership in the five-match Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy Test series against England, former England captain Alastair Cook has made a telling observation about the impact of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on The Overlap Cricket YouTube channel, Cook said the Indian dressing room has now entered a phase of reset – not just in terms of personnel, but in psychological and cultural dynamics. According to Cook, Kohli and Rohit were such commanding presences that their actions and decisions were rarely, if ever, challenged – regardless of performance. Poll Do you agree with Alastair Cook’s assessment that the Indian dressing room is in a phase of reset? “What I can’t work out and will find out obviously is by taking those two really experienced players out – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – who have been really a bit on the downslide, is the impact they have in the dressing room is now gone,” Cook remarked. IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant opens up on chemistry with Shubman Gill and England challenge “No matter how… when you take senior players out like that, even if they are great leaders, they might get things wrong, but no one is ever questioning those two in that change room. So now there’s almost a clean slate.”Kohli and Sharma’s Test exits came last month, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, which India lost 3–1, being their last outings in the format. Kohli finished with 190 runs at an average of 23.75, including a century in the opening Test, while Rohit had a lean patch, managing only 31 runs in five innings.Cook acknowledged that, despite the absence of the two veterans, India’s batting depth remains formidable. Nick Knight EXCLUSIVE: On Shubman Gill and absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in England “One thing we know – they’re going to be so talented. They could pick, I reckon, 18 batsmen almost of the same quality now. And it’ll be really interesting to see whether that talent, without those two there – and I’m not saying they shouldn’t be in – can rise to the occasion.”India’s new-look side under Gill faces England’s Bazball aggression in a series that is expected to test their adaptability and temperament. The first Test begins Friday at Headingley, marking the start of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy era, a tribute to two cricketing legends and a symbolic handover from one generation to the next.

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Bowled by Jadeja, Bumrah had him...: Karun Nair sparks last-minute concern, gets pulled aside by coach for brief chat

Bowled by Jadeja, Bumrah had him…: Karun Nair sparks last-minute concern, gets pulled aside by coach for brief chat

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The race for the vacant No. 3 spot is heating up, and the returning Karun Nair could most likely take the spot in the opening game against England in Leeds, which begins on June 20. But ahead of the big game, that could mark his return to the India XI after eight years, Nair was seen in considerable discomfort in the penultimate net session before the Headingley Test. Karun Nair could likely feature in 1st England Test(PTI) Nair earned his long-awaited comeback following a record domestic season, where he clobbered a plethora of runs in both Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy. He then vindicated the selectors’ trust with a double century in the India A game, which certainly put him ahead in the race against Sai Sudharsan for a role in India batting line-up. However, a RevSportz report on India’s penultimate training session for the Test series at the Headingley Stadium claimed that the 33-year-old was not at his very best on Wednesday. Neither did he look confident against pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who troubled him with deliveries outside the outside off, not did he manage to settle against the spinners, who eventually forced him to play a few uncharacteristic shots. He was even clean bowled by Ravindra Jadeja during the sessions. “Nair appeared slightly under-confident in the nets. Starting off at the pacers’ net, he struggled against the pace and accuracy of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who bowled with intensity and control. Deliveries outside off stump caused him trouble, leading to several tentative defensive strokes,” read the report. “He then moved to the spin nets, where he faced Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, along with a couple of local Yorkshire bowlers. Nair was dismissed a couple of times, including once clean bowled by Jadeja. In an attempt to break free, he tried a few uncharacteristic strokes — including reverse sweeps. Such strokes do not come naturally to a batter like Nair and one could clearly see that the shots were a result of the frustration building inside him.” Matters worsened for the Karnataka batter when a Prasidh Krishna delivery struck him on the ribs. But Nair did not give up. The report further said that batting coach Shitanshu Kotak pulled him aside for a brief chat, after which he showed some improvement by playing straighter. India will hope it was merely an off day for the veteran batter, who has been touted for a place in the India XI for the match against England. The team will have their final net session on Thursday at the same venue. The report also added that the India bowlers had an extended batting session on Wednesday, with the likes of Kuldeep and Bumrah padded up to take on local howlers and a few teammates in Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar.

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