June 25, 2025
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India vs England

BCCI called out for 'Nair vs Sudharsan dilemma'; Gambhir told to 'reward' overlooked star: Why aren't we playing him?

BCCI called out for ‘Nair vs Sudharsan dilemma’; Gambhir told to ‘reward’ overlooked star: Why aren’t we playing him?

Danijones08 mins

India vice-captain Rishabh Pant confirmed on Wednesday that skipper Shubman Gill would occupy the No. 4 position vacated by the legendary Virat Kohli, and that he would be slotted in at No. 5, leaving the dilemma around the No. 3 spot heading into the opening game against England in Leeds, starting June 20. The general perception is that the selection headache for that top-order spot pertains to returning Karun Nair and the uncapped B Sai Sudharsan, both of whom have been highly backed by experts. But not to WV Raman, rather felt that this “dilemma” has led to an in-form star getting overlooked. India head Coach Gautam Gambhir was reminded of overlooked star(Anshuman Poyrekar/Hindustan Times) Speaking to the Times of India, the former head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team reminded the Times of India that the squad also has a certain Abhimanyu Easwaran. He came through the ranks and had long been knocking on the selection door until a call-up in the series against Australia last year. Although he did not get a game, he was reconsidered for the England tour, for which he vindicated the selection with back-to-back fifties in the two India A games he played. In response to the ongoing conversation around Sudharsan, who has become quite the cynosure in the build-up with talks on his County experience in 2024, which included a century, Raman reminded the Indian think tank of Easwaran’s credentials. He urged head coach Gautam Gambhir to “reward” him for his consistency. “No, let’s not forget that Easwaran has been getting runs much higher than him over a long period of time. We have been having Easwaran as a part of the squad. We are not playing him. And that is again creating a lot of dilemma when the next selection comes up. We will have to try and reward him fully in the sense that there is no point picking him in the squad. We don’t have, let’s say, a player who has opened in the past, who is willing to open. There is a vacant slot at the top of the order. And here you have on the other hand, you have a player who has been opening right through his life, who has got runs every season almost. And then you pick him in the squad. When there is an opening slot which is vacant, you don’t use him. I think we need to first answer that particular bit. Again, we have got somebody who is making a comeback after a long period of time. And then he is not a spring onion now. He is into his 30s. He is experienced. He is also in the best of form,” he said. Raman’s words indicated that he rather reckoned Easwaran should have been picked to replace Rohit Sharma when he was not part of the XI in the two Tests in Australia, rather than KL Rahul, given that the Bengal star was selected as a backup opener. ‘KL Rahul continues to slip under the radar’ The former Indian cricketer also questioned the discussions around Nair. While he admitted that the 33-year-old scripted a remarkable turnaround in earning a call-up to the Test team after eight years, he felt India needed to first look at Rahul, who impressed in the tour of Australia, before moving on. “You just mentioned Karun Nair. Someone who is coming back on good run in the domestic circuit, found his second wind, did well in the IPL on a couple of occasions, double-hundred for the India A set- up. But then one player who continues to slip under the radar is KL Rahul. He starts a series in very emphatic fashion but then kind of tapers off. How important are these nine Tests going to be for KL Rahul – five away and then four at home.” “Yeah, this has also happened on his last tour of England. He started off well and then he tapered down and this is something that has happened. We all know that. But again, still the fact of the matter is that he is experienced, he has got runs, he is capable of runs, he gives you the impression that he can get runs. So, he also is aware of the fact that he needs to step up as far as consistency is concerned. Now, the matter is very straightforward. You play him in the first three test matches, you see how he goes about it. Obviously, if he does well, you will continue him and then he has got to be told, yes, we are very well aware of the fact that you are talented, you have performed in all the three formats. Now, the time has come for you to up it in terms of consistency and a message has to be conveyed to him. And that’s the way to go about it. Failing which, you are anyway in a transition period. You got to try and look for other options.”

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Rishabh Pant won't mind looking 'stupid', but knows there is more riding on his shoulders than ever before

Rishabh Pant won’t mind looking ‘stupid’, but knows there is more riding on his shoulders than ever before

Danijones08 mins

“Finally,” he smiled, cheekily. “It feels good but at the same time, it’s a responsibility also to share your knowledge, your experience.” India’s Rishabh Pant during a practice session ahead of the Test cricket match series against England, in UK(@BCCI) Being cheeky is something that comes naturally to Rishabh Pant. Cheeky good, that is. He is a constant stream of chatter from behind the stumps, and he will often make you laugh, but he is never malicious or offensive. But more than anywhere else, his cheekiness manifests itself in his batting. Sometime to irate ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid’ admonishments of the kind Sunil Gavaskar doled out in Melbourne last December, but also with spectacular outcomes. Pant is on his third full tour of England. It was here that, in August 2018, he made his Test debut midway through a five-match series. In only his third appearance, at The Oval, he provided glimpses of the immense potential nestling in his stocky frame, with a spectacular 114 in a sixth-wicket stand of 204 with KL Rahul. From 121 for five, chasing 464 for a consolation victory, India mounted a stunning rearguard action though eventually they fell well short, beaten by 118 runs to surrender the series 1-4. In the next series – the fourth and the fifth Tests were split by a year – he unleashed 146 off a mere 111 deliveries with India in all sorts of trouble, 98 for five, on the first morning of the final Test, in Birmingham in July 2022. Once again, there was no joy for Pant or India, who were hammered by seven wickets with England rallying to square the showdown 2-2. Four of Pant’s six Test hundreds have come away from home, each breathtakingly brilliant. But for all his imperious majesty at the crease, he was forced to play second fiddle to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. In their retirements from the five-day game, Pant has now gate-crashed into the ‘senior batter’ category – which is what elicited that ‘finally’ comment on Wednesday afternoon – and been promoted as the vice-captain of the five-day team, forming the playing leadership group alongside Shubman Gill (Shubby, as he calls him), the new Test skipper. From maverick to mentor: Pant embraces responsibility without shedding flair Pant and Gill share an excellent rapport off the field, which should translate into smart decision-making on it. As friends, they can agree to disagree; while Pant understands that Gill as captain must have the last word, the latter respects his slightly older buddy’s inputs and will not disagree just for the sake of it. It’s to this group that Indian cricket will look as it seeks to break away from an excellent past and move into an exciting tomorrow full of promise and hope. An impish smile broke out on Pant’s face when he held forth on the challenges of batting in England. “You have to upscale your basics,” he remarked. “You have to respect the condition. You don’t have to be too aggressive.” Perhaps, he was trying to convince himself, you wondered… The thing is, Rishabh Pant won’t go away wondering. He is very much an instinctive batter, backing himself to play the most outrageous strokes even in the five-day game while being well aware that if he falls only marginally short in execution, he will be the object of unforgiving, stringent criticism. It’s a trade-off he finds acceptable. He doesn’t mind looking ‘stupid’ if he is convinced the odds are in his favour, though as senior batter and vice-captain, he knows that there is more riding on his shoulders now than ever before. Pant must perhaps be telling his younger batting colleagues to ‘do as I say, not as I do’. After all, not many can do what he does. Not many can even think of doing what he can. Despite his obvious and sustained high-risk approach, he averages 42.11 from 43 Tests while striking at 73.62 runs per 100 balls faced. He also smashes almost one six an innings in Test cricket (73 in 75 knocks), which reiterates his image as a risk-non-averse batter without a negative bone in his body. Even in his early days under Kohli, and then with greater confidence and authority when Rohit took charge, Pant was a leader in his own right. Especially from behind the stumps, which gave him the best vantage position from which to read the game, he firmly moved the fielders around, sussing up the angles and redirecting traffic secure in the knowledge that his captain had his back. That aspect of his cricket will remain unchanged. As a batter, though, it will be interesting to see if the additional responsibility sparks a battle between his instinct and his altered status within the team landscape, and particularly so with (vice-capt.) riding alongside his name. What have you got in store for us, Rishabh Pant?

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Modi-Trump call: India sets record straight on ceasefire

Shubman Gill’s big Test: Leadership lessons from Graeme Smith’s historic England tour

Danijones08 mins

India are about to embark on a new chapter in their cricketing history as captain Shubman Gill officially takes charge of the Test team from June 20 for the five-match Test series against England. The 25-year-old has been entrusted with the leadership duties following the retirement of captain Rohit Sharma. Gill has become the fifth-youngest Indian Test captain and will face a herculean task of leading the team in England. As the prince of Indian cricket gears up for his Test captaincy debut, he can draw inspiration from legendary South Africa skipper Graeme Smith, who took to leadership like a fish to water, during testing times for his country. Smith was crowned South Africa’s captain after their 2003 ODI World Cup debacle, taking over the leadership mantle from Shaun Pollock. The 22-year-old became the youngest captain from his country and also faced a similar challenge of touring England for just his second series. Facing a daunting task of leading his team in a foreign land where the local media is known for going after the touring sides, Smith led his team from the front, scoring a magnificent double hundred in the very first Test in Birmingham. He followed it up with another double ton in the second game at Lord’s but this time in a winning cause, which also earned him the Player of the Match award. Can Gill emulate Smith’s batting heroics? Throughout the series, Smith rose to the occasion whenever his team needed him and was instrumental in turning the game in their favour with both his bat and tactical brilliance on the field. As a result, South Africa managed to draw the series 2-2 and Smith was adjudged Player of the series for scoring 714 runs from nine innings. Hence, there’s a lot Gill can learn from Smith, as he embarks on his journey as Test captain. When the Proteas legend was made the skipper, he was met with widespread censure as critics felt he was ‘too young’ and underprepared for the role. Similarly, Gill’s appointment has also been met with similar criticism, mainly due to his poor returns outside of Asia. Apart from his debut series in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, Gill has failed to live up to the expectations of the fans and pundits as he hasn’t had a single fifty-plus score in overseas conditions since then. In the 13 Test matches (24 innings) the Punjab-born cricketer has played outside of Asia, he’s accumulated just 559 runs at an average of 25.40 with two fifties to his name (both in 2021). As a result, his overall Test numbers have also been badly affected as he has 1893 runs to his name from 32 matches (59 innings) at an average of 35.05 with five hundreds and seven fifties. A herculean task to manage seniors Apart from his batting woes, Gill also faces the challenge of managing a team full of several senior players. Likewise, Smith also had to manage veterans such as Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Shaun Pollock, among others. However, he passed the Test with flying colours, making the team gel as a unit and take the fiercest of opposition head-on. Similarly, with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul in the team—both of whom have previously captained India—it won’t be an easy task for Gill to marshal his troops. However, he will need to find a middle ground between authority and camaraderie to lead the team forward while maintaining amicable relations with everyone. A defining chapter begins The prince of Indian cricket is ready to usher the team into the dawn of a new era, but will face several sets of challenges in his path, which will turn out to be the real test of his character. He will have to take a leaf out of Smith’s book to succeed in what would be the toughest phase of his career so far. By the end of his career, Smith managed to etch his name in history books as the most successful skipper (in terms of wins) in Test cricket, having led South Africa to 53 wins. While there’s no guarantee that Gill will also finish his career with such prodigious numbers, the youngster does have the fire in his belly to take Indian cricket to new heights. When Gill walks out for the toss for the first Test against England in Headingley, his every move will be scrutinised. The 25-year-old has a lot riding on his shoulders and needs to be prepared for the storm that lies ahead of him. Published By: Rishabh Beniwal Published On: Jun 19, 2025

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Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma are massive losses...: England star previews Test battle with Shubman Gill-led India

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma are massive losses…: England star previews Test battle with Shubman Gill-led India

Danijones03 mins

The upcoming five-match Test series in England will see a new generation of Indian cricketers take over the mantle, with the appointment of Shubman Gill as the new red-ball skipper. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not part of the Test setup anymore, having announced their retirements from the format recently. Meanwhile, R Ashwin has announced his retirement from all formats. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not part of the Test setup anymore, having announced their retirements from the format recently.(AFP) England’s Brydon Carse, who is set to make his home Test debut, weighed in on the absence of Kohli and Rohit, claiming that the pair would be a huge loss for India, but it would still be a challenge to face the visitors. Speaking to PTI, he said, “Look, obviously, you know, Virat and Sharma are massive losses for their batting line-up. They’ve been experienced players over a number of years and, you know, world-class batters.” “But the depth that Indian cricket have and the quality and players coming through, you know, they will, without a doubt, put up a very strong 11 and we’re ready for whatever challenge that brings.” The Indian batting lineup will also have a fresh look, especially the top-order. Sai Sudharsan is expected to make his debut and is also predicted to open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Meanwhile, comeback king Karun Nair is also in contention for a slot in the top-order. Carse said, “Yeah, look, I mean, they’re quality players. Again, you know, depending on what the surface plays like. I think any batter that you’re bowling at, you know, with a new ball or their first 20 balls is susceptible to getting out.” “So, whenever we have an opportunity at any of their top-order batters, we’ll have plans and processes in place, to obviously knock them over as quick as we can,” he added. The opening Test will take place in Leeds and Carse will also be making his first red-ball appearance on English soil, and is also part of the playing XI.

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Mukesh Kumar makes cryptic 'karma' post days before 1st Test, fans believe it's a jab at Harshit Rana's 'late selection'

Mukesh Kumar makes cryptic ‘karma’ post days before 1st Test, fans believe it’s a jab at Harshit Rana’s ‘late selection’

Danijones03 mins

Team India’s fast bowler, Mukesh Kumar, posted a cryptic story about ‘karma’ on his official Instagram account on Wednesday, which has triggered speculations on social media. Mukesh was part of the India A squad during their tour of England, where he played in the first multi-day match against England Lions. He registered the best figures among all bowlers for the side, picking three wickets for 92 runs. India’s Mukesh Kumar during a practice session in 2024(PTI) Mukesh didn’t play in the second tour game, and wasn’t part of India’s 18-member squad for the five-Test series. However, on Tuesday, Harshit Rana – also part of India A squad – was included as the 19th member in the Test squad. “Karma bides its time. You will always have to watch out. Karma is unforgiving and always gets payback,” Mukesh wrote on his Instagram story. And fans believe it could be a reaction to Rana’s selection in the Test squad. Here’s how fans reacted:   Rana, too, played in only the first game for India A, picking a wicket. The pacer, however, played two matches in India’s previous Test series against Australia Down Under. Rana has also represented India in both white-ball formats. Mukesh, meanwhile, last played for India in July 2024 during the T20I series against Zimbabwe. Mukesh has represented the side in three Tests, picking 7 wickets. He made his debut during India’s away Test series against West Indies, and last played in the longest format during the home series against England last year. Rana’s addition bolsters India’s pace attack in England, which includes premier fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, as well as Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Arshdeep Singh, who received a maiden Test call-up. Additionally, Nitish Kumar Reddy also adds to India’s pace-bowling options for the series. The side is missing the services of Mohammed Shami for the series. Kuldeep Yadav, meanwhile, leads the spin bowling attack, which includes Ravindra Jadeja as the all-round option.

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India vs England: Gill to take over No. 4 spot, Pant to stick with No. 5

India vs England: Gill to take over No. 4 spot, Pant to stick with No. 5

Danijones07 mins

New Delhi: As India ready themselves for a new-look batting line-up after the departure of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of the England Tests, vice-captain Rishabh Pant on Wednesday confirmed that while the team remains currently undecided on the No. 3 spot, captain Shubman Gill will bat at No. 4 in the series while he will follow at the No. 5 slot. Rishabh Pant during a practice session ahead of the Leeds Test. (BCCI/X) So far, it was Kohli who had been batting at the pivotal No. 4 spot, which means Gill has big shoes to fill. “I think there is still discussion going on about who is going to play 3. But 4, 5 are definitely fixed. I think Shubman is going to bat at 4 and I am going to stick to No. 5 as of now, and rest we are going to keep on discussing that,” said the wicket-keeper batter in Leeds. There are returnees and several batters who are on their first tour to England under the new-look Gill-led team. In the process, India are also chasing their first series win in England since 2007. Aware that India are undergoing a transition, Pant believes that it is more of an opportunity than a challenge. “It’s a new start for us. Big people have left and there will be a gap but at the same time, there’s an opportunity to build a new culture forward or add to it,” he said. “We can help the new players to learn and improve in overseas conditions. And we have a lot of care and love for each other in the dressing room.” Pant, who is on his third Test tour to England, will have to step up as one of the senior batters in the team. “It feels good (to be considered a senior), finally,” he laughed. “At the same time, it’s a responsibility to share your knowledge and experience with youngsters and new players coming in. It’s an extra added responsibility, but in the middle, you are not thinking that you are the vice-captain or a senior batter, you are just a batsman in the middle and you have to do your best and the game will take care of itself.” “I think me and Shubman have a really good camaraderie off the field. If you’re good friends off the field, it eventually comes on the field as well. That is something I’ve always believed,” he noted. “Me and him, we gel really well together. We keep on having conversations and the kind of comfort zone we have with each other, I think that is really going to be special for us.” England, who have named a fairly inexperienced bowling line-up for the first Test at Headingley, will be without their retired veteran pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Pant said it was a relief to see the legendary pair missing from the English line-up but was not ready to underestimate the current lot. “It feels so good that both (Anderson and Broad) are not there,” he joked. “They’ve been there for England for so many years. At the same time, they have enough ammunition in their bowling line-up.” “We don’t want to take anyone lightly because our team is also young. They’re still looking to develop themselves. But at the same time, we’ve got to play our cricket and respect the bowlers and opposition where it needs it.” When answering a question about the recent air accident involving the crash of the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick bound Air India Flight 171, Pant’s mind immediately went back to his own near-fatal car crash in 2022. However, after clarifying that it was the airplane crash in question, Pant spoke about trying to bring joy through sport after the tragedy that killed over 270 people. “You want to make India happy all the time but, as a cricketer, it’s not possible all the time. But what I can promise from our side is we are going to put our best foot forward and we are going to give our 200% and in that process, we are going to make India a lot happier place.” “The emotion is going to be high because of what happened in the crash but at the same time we are going to put our best foot forward for the country and think about how we can make them happy and that’s an added responsibility always.” The first Test starts on Friday.

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Rishabh Pant's emotional response to Air India Ahmedabad plane crash question will leave you teary-eyed, says…

Rishabh Pant’s emotional response to Air India Ahmedabad plane crash question will leave you teary-eyed, says…

Danijones04 mins

Jun 18, 2025 09:20 PM IST India’s new Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant revealed that the entire country was ‘saddened’ by the Air India tragedy. The recent Air India tragedy on June 13 has affected the entire nation, and the country is still reeling from its trauma. The London-bound Boeing flight crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, claiming over 270 lives, including passengers, crew and the flight captain. There was one survivor from the flight, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who was on seat 11A. Speaking to the media, even India vice-captain Rishabh Pant appeared visibly shaken when he was asked about the tragedy. India’s Rishabh Pant was asked about the recent Ahmedabad plane crash.(AFP) Pant is currently in England for a five-match Test series, which is set to begin on June 20. The wicketkeeper-batter revealed that the country was saddened by the accident, and the Indian cricket team would try to make the country happy again in the upcoming Tests. “See, what happened in the aircraft—I think the whole of India were saddened, disheartened. At the same time, the only thing from our side is, we are going to be sticking to them how we can make India happy again. Obviously, emotions are going to be high because of what happened in the crash. But at the same time, we want to put our best foot forward for the country,” he said. The Air India crash also saw a delay in the unveiling of the newly renamed Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, which was formerly known as the Pataudi Trophy. The upcoming series will see a new generation take over the mantle, with Shubman Gill appointed as skipper. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are not part of the team anymore, having announced their Test retirements. Meanwhile, R Ashwin retired from all formats at the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With the departure of the trio, the only remaining members from the previous leadership are Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Pant and KL Rahul. The upcoming series will also see a new top-order for India, with Sai Sudharsan expected to make his debut and comeback king Karun Nair also in contention. News / Cricket News / Rishabh Pant’s emotional response to Air India Ahmedabad plane crash question will leave you teary-eyed, says… See Less

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Rishabh Pant accuses fielding coach T Dilip of favouritism; lots of sledging during India's practice session: Report

Rishabh Pant accuses fielding coach T Dilip of favouritism; lots of sledging during India’s practice session: Report

Danijones06 mins

The Indian cricket team, which arrived in Headingley on Tuesday, got down to business as the players and coaching staff participated in the team’s first proper practice session in Headingley ahead of the series opener against England on Friday. The team comes to Headingley on the back of two warm-up matches against England Lions and one intra-squad game, but irrespective of whatever fine-tuning at Canterbury and Beckenham, Leeds is where the players will be tested the most. Two practice sessions, one done and dusted with, and then onto the big one. **EDS: THIRD PARTY IMAGE** In this image released by @BCCI via X on June 8, 2025, India’s Rishabh Pant during a practice session ahead of the Test cricket match series against England, in UK. (@BCCI via PTI Photo)(PTI06_08_2025_000304B)(@BCCI) There’s something about this team. Yes, three of Indian cricket’s biggest superstars are missing, but the 18 players picked to do the job appear a lot more relaxed and entertained than usual. Perhaps it’s the lack of baggage. Most of these players are young and low on experience – nothing better than a fresh start – which reflected as the players hit the ground running on Wednesday. Cricbuzz reported that India’s practice session initially resembled a match of gully cricket as the players engaged in some heavy sledging and banters. The session began with fielding coach T Dilip’s direct hit challenge. For this, the players were grouped into three different teams. Dilip is one to always begin the proceedings with some light-hearted drills, which was evident in the players’ demeanour. In fact, Rishabh Pant even accused Dilip of favouritism, saying ‘Arre who toh lefty hai, usko left mein hi khada karoge‘. But all in good spirits. A fun fight about the final scores capped off the drill. But it wasn’t before some takeaways. Prasidh Krishna, Karun Nair and Kuldeep Yadav all nailed a couple of direct hits each. Also Read: Shubman Gill to bat at No. 4 in Headingley Test, Rishabh Pant at 5; but where does that leave Karun Nair? However, once that direct hit competition was over, the fun was replaced by seriousness. The batters took guard in the nets while bowlers marked their run-ups. First up were openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who took throwdowns before facing the fiery fast-bowling duo – and one that are likely to open the bowling for India, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Both India pacers looked in top gear. Bowling coach Morne Morkel has already informed just how quick, and in-rhythm Jasprit Bumrah has looked in during the intra-squad match, and today was just another extension of it. After Gill and Jaiswal were done with their hitouts, in walked Shubman Gill and Pant, India’s No. 4 and 5 for the Headingley Test as confirmed by the vice-captain himself. Karun Nair had his chance too, but was in for a rough time when he copped a blow to his abdomen from Prasidh. The impact of the ball was such that the hit left a red mark just below Nair’s ribs. Thankfully, it was just a passing pain, which Nair laughed off. Unplayable Bumrah Bumrah was once again a standout star during the nets. The Indian pace spearhead, who confirmed that he won’t play all five Tests, proved once again exactly why he’ll be missed dearly in the ones he skips. With the red Dukes ball in his hand, Bumrah emerged as a serious threat for his own teammates, making Jaiswal and Pant hope and jump. The one batter, however, who looked the most assured against Bumrah was India captain Gill, using his defence to negate the movements of the ball. His approach stood out because the rest of the batters, Sai Sudharsan and KL Rahul, found it difficult to cope against Bumrah’s barrage of unplayable deliveries. Outside of the players, England head coach Brendon McCullum and Morkel shared a warm embrace.

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IND vs ENG First Test: Onus on openers, over-reliance on Bumrah – strengths and weaknesses of Shubman Gill-led India | Cricket News

IND vs ENG First Test: Onus on openers, over-reliance on Bumrah – strengths and weaknesses of Shubman Gill-led India | Cricket News

Danijones010 mins

Jasprit Bumrah bowls during the intra-squad match as Yashasvi Jaiswal watches on. (BCCI | X) Over the years, swing and seam have proven to be India’s bugbears on tours of England. In the last decade-and-half, the duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, with the support act of Sam Curran and Chris Woakes, had left Indian batters on the mat. In a couple of days’ time, the Shubman Gill-led team will be up against Ben Stokes’ England at Headingley in Leeds. England don’t have Broad or Anderson in their ranks anymore, but the wily Chris Woakes is still around, and in Brydon Carse, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue, they have an attack that, in home conditions, will be lethal enough to trouble the inexperienced Indian batting line-up.TimesofIndia.com examines the strengths and weaknesses of the Indian team ahead of the first Test. Magical Bumrah Former England pacer Stuart Broad, in his podcast For the Love of Cricket, mentioned how the fitness of the world’s best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, could decide the series’ fate. “He is certainly someone England won’t want to play all five Tests. Because if he does, he’s going to pick up a shedload of wickets.”Broad is right. No bowler in Test history has taken 200 wickets at an average under 20. Bumrah was at his magical best in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he picked up 32 wickets at 13.India will be banking on their prize asset to deliver again. Who steps up if no Bumrah? India’s over-reliance on Bumrah in Australia was quite visible. No other bowler looked like taking wickets. And with no Mohammed Shami on this trip, England will have run-scoring opportunities once they’ve seen off Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Ajit Agarkar, India’s chief selector, had made it clear that Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Tests. In that case, India’s young captain, Shubman Gill, will be banking on the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and veteran Shardul Thakur to play the perfect second fiddle.The onus will also be on Kuldeep Yadav to step up. Kuldeep Yadav hints at spin-friendly wicket ahead of England Test series The last time the England “Bazballers” faced Kuldeep Yadav, they found it tough to pick his length, variations, and, to some extent, the loop. He picked 19 wickets in four Test matches on a “true wicket,” not a rank-turner, and shifted the tide towards India after they were trailing 0-1 in the five-match series. Although Kuldeep won’t have fond memories of England, where he had a forgettable experience on a green top at Lord’s in 2018, at 30, with more maturity and improved skillsets, Kuldeep can be India’s trump card. Play the Waiting Game The age-old manual of how to bat in England is simple: Wait. But the Indians don’t do waiting all that well — especially when the ball swings around. The swing breaks their soul, and by the time the ball starts to curve away or shape in, Indian batters start to freeze. The balance starts to go topsy-turvy, the bat follows, and they break the thumb rule of batsmanship: never play away from your body. It will be familiar territory for the Indian batters, with the trajectory of the swinging ball winking at them. Eyes on Jaiswal and KL Rahul In the four Tests after the WTC final loss in 2021, India did well and were leading the curtailed series 2-1 in England. The reason behind India’s success was the way openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul batted in that series. Rohit scored a match-winning 127 the last time India played at The Oval. The knock came in India’s second innings when they were trailing by 99 runs, and it was an uncharacteristic knock from Rohit, who faced 256 deliveries, spent close to five hours at the crease, and hit only six boundaries. KL Rahul, the most experienced batter in the Indian setup, would want to emulate their success alongside the red-hot Yashasvi Jaiswal. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Coach on England Prep, Opening Partner, & Playing Under Gill Follow the Virat template India’s new captain Shubman Gill’s batting record away from home has come under scrutiny. Gill averages 35 in Test cricket — that is not enough for a country with such batting depth. His vulnerability against the moving ball is also well known. Gill’s promotion to captaincy did not sit well with many former cricketers. Former India openers K. Srikkanth and Wasim Jaffer have questioned his credentials and have raised doubts about whether he is a certainty in India’s Test XI. “He has not even secured his place in India’s Test XI,” Srikkanth had told TimesofIndia.com, after Gill was announced as India’s captain. Nick Knight EXCLUSIVE: On Shubman Gill and absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in England But Gill and other young Indian batters can take a cue from Virat Kohli — the way he batted in 2018 was a perfect example of how to tackle swing and movement.Kohli had a terrible series in 2014, scoring just 134 runs in his 10 innings. But he came back to England an altogether different batter in 2018 and finished the Test series as the top run-scorer with an impressive 593-run tally, including two centuries and three fifties. Don’t Sleep in the Cordon Besides suicidal batting tendencies, India’s cricketers have been afflicted with ‘butter fingers’, dropping easy catches. The ‘butter-fingered’ slip cordon has cost India several Test matches in England.Slip catching is not easy in England. The sightscreens are not that big, so you don’t get a clear background. The Dukes ball swings a lot as well — keepers face a lot of issues once the ball crosses the stumps. The same problem applies to slip fielders. The ball can swing after taking the edge as well. So catching practice is going to be very crucial. They are coming off the IPL, where one hardly does slip catches. But in England, slip catching becomes key. And then, making sure the slip cordon is very sure…

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India vs England: Geoffrey Boycott says 'Rohit Sharma won't be missed as much as Virat Kohli', urges England to tone down Bazball | Cricket News

India vs England: Geoffrey Boycott says ‘Rohit Sharma won’t be missed as much as Virat Kohli’, urges England to tone down Bazball | Cricket News

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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (AFP Photo) As India gear up for their five-Test series against England beginning June 20 in Leeds, former England great Geoffrey Boycott has weighed in strongly on the absence of two Indian stalwarts – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – calling Kohli’s retirement a bigger blow.In his column for The Daily Telegraph, Boycott wrote, “The retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma hurts the chances of India beating England. Kohli is the biggest loss as he has been their best batsman and talisman in all three formats.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While acknowledging Rohit’s contributions, Boycott said the former captain “won’t be missed as much as Kohli,” citing Rohit’s inconsistent Test form in the last couple of years. “Rohit was never a natural athlete like Kohli… the wear and tear of opening the innings and being captain in all three formats wore him down,” he added. Poll Who do you think will be missed more in the Indian lineup against England? Both players retired from Test cricket in May, leaving significant voids in India’s lineup – particularly in the top order and at No. 4.Turning attention to the hosts, Boycott had a word of caution for Ben Stokes and Co., fresh off a Test win over Zimbabwe. He warned that England must moderate their aggressive “Bazball” approach if they are to dominate a transition-phase Indian team. The making of Dhruv Jurel: Kargil war hero’s son who chose cricket over the Army “England should beat India if they temper Bazball and use some common sense,” Boycott wrote. “It’s no use telling us how good you are when you haven’t made a single WTC final at home. They should be embarrassed.”Calling England a “one-trick-pony,” Boycott urged, “Being a winner is better than being known as an entertainer… Bring your best game and apply some cricket nous.”

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