June 25, 2025
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Shubman Gill's princely walk gets King touches, joins Virat Kohli, Sunil Gavaskar to smash century on captaincy debut

Shubman Gill’s princely walk gets King touches, joins Virat Kohli, Sunil Gavaskar to smash century on captaincy debut

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The pressure was immense. Batting at a position where Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli made their mark, Shubman Gill had his task cut out. However, the right-handed batter announced himself in style as the India Test captain notched up his first Test century in SENA countries in the first match of the five-game series against England in Headingley, Leeds, on Friday. Batting at No.4, Gill made his intentions clear from the get-go as he played his natural game and did not take any backward step.  Shubman Gill smashes his first overseas century. (AFP) Shubman Gill is the fifth Indian to smash a hundred on captaincy debut after Vijay Hazare (against England in Delhi in 1951), Sunil Gavaskar (against New Zealand in Auckland in 1976), Dilip Vengsarkar (against West Indies in Delhi in 1987) and Virat Kohli (against Australia in 2014).  Gill walked out to bat in the second session on Day 1, and he went after the bowling from ball No.1. He did not let the likes of Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes settle as he kept dispatching the loose deliveries for boundaries. The 25-year-old stitched together a partnership of 129 runs for the third wicket with Yashasvi Jaiswal. The latter brought up his fifth Test ton in the second session. However, he lost his wicket right at the beginning of the third session as his stumps were rattled by England captain Ben Stokes. Also Read: IND vs ENG LIVE Score: Shubman Gill announces himself as captain in style, smashes century Upon Jaiswal’s loss of wicket, Gill realised that he needed to take on the responsibility. The right-hander mixed caution with aggression in the third and final session, and eventually, he brought up his first century in the SENA countries off 140 balls of the bowling of Josh Tongue.  Also Read: Yashasvi Jaiswal starts ENG tour with sublime century, dressing room erupts As soon as Gill completed his century, the India captain celebrated in his trademark style. He bowed down towards the dressing room and took stock of the applause of the entire Headingley crowd.  Earlier on Day 1, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who was on commentary, famously remarked, “There was a king in Test cricket, now there’s a prince.” Heading into the series against England, there was immense pressure on Gill as his overseas Test record left much to be desired. There were question marks on him being elevated to the captaincy role because of his lack of runs overseas. However, Gill let his bat do the talking and prove all the naysayers and critics wrong.  India dominate on Day 1  England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and asked India to bat first. However, he was made to regret his decision as the visitors made full use of favourable batting conditions. KL Rahul and Jaiswal put on 91 runs for the opening wicket. Shubman Gill then joined in as India piled on the misery on the hosts. Sai Sudharsan, making his debut for India, failed to leave a mark as he was strangled down the leg side, and as a result, he had to walk back for a duck. He was dismissed by England captain Stokes.   

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Pak admits Indian strikes on key airbases

ENG vs IND: Did Sanjay Manjrekar take a dig at Virat Kohli during Leeds Test commentary? Fans think so

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Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar appeared to take a subtle swipe at Virat Kohli while on commentary duty during Day 1 of the first Test between England and India at Headingley, Leeds, on Friday, 20 June. As Manjrekar praised KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s disciplined approach in the morning session, viewers were quick to pick up on what seemed like a veiled reference to Kohli’s past struggles. England, having opted to bowl first, failed to maintain consistent lines and lengths in the opening exchanges. This allowed the Indian openers to settle in comfortably, leaving deliveries outside off-stump with composure and punishing the loose ones. Leeds Test Full Scorecard | Full Coverage As the partnership neared a century stand, Manjrekar lauded Rahul’s restraint against full deliveries outside off-stump, contrasting it—without naming names—with a “former batter” who would have chased them and gotten out. “KL hasn’t touched one ball full outside off. We know of a former batter who would have gone after that delivery and gotten himself into trouble,” Manjrekar said during commentary on JioHotstar. While Manjrekar didn’t mention Kohli by name, many fans were quick to connect the dots. Kohli, who announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this year, had well-documented issues with that line during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He was dismissed caught behind or in the slips seven times in ten innings in that five-Test series. After a century in the opener in Perth, Kohli’s form dipped drastically, with just 190 runs in the remaining matches. Scott Boland, in particular, exploited Kohli’s vulnerability outside off-stump, leaving the former captain visibly frustrated in what turned out to be his final Test assignment. Kohli later played a Ranji Trophy fixture before calling time on his red-ball career weeks ahead of the England tour. Ironically, moments after Manjrekar’s comment, Rahul fell to a similar temptation—caught in the slips playing an expansive cover drive at a wide delivery after a composed knock. India lost two wickets at the stroke of lunch, with debutant Sai Sudharsan also dismissed for a duck, edging down the leg side. Despite the hiccup, India continued to build a strong foundation in the second session. Yashasvi Jaiswal, in particular, looked fluent once again against England, bringing up a solid half-century in a growing partnership with Shubman Gill. The visitors went past 150 at over four runs an over, putting pressure back on the English bowlers. Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: Jun 20, 2025 Tune In

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Sanjay Manjrekar's veiled dig at Virat Kohli after Rahul, Jaiswal dominate: 'A former batter would’ve gotten in trouble'

Sanjay Manjrekar’s veiled dig at Virat Kohli after Rahul, Jaiswal dominate: ‘A former batter would’ve gotten in trouble’

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A Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin-minus India began well in the ongoing five-match series against England after being asked to bat first by Ben Stokes in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. India’s opening batters KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal mixed caution with aggression to put England’s pace attack of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jos Tongue and Stokes under pressure. India vs England, 1st Test: In praising KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanjay Manjrekar took a brutal swipe at Virat Kohli. (Action Images via Reuters) Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar praised Rahul and Jaiswal for their ability to not poke at balls bowled outside the off-stump. However, in doing so, he ended up taking a jibe at former India captain Virat Kohli, who retired from Test cricket in May 2025, just days ahead of the squad announcement for the England series.  Speaking about Kohli, the right-handed batter got dismissed on all eight occasions against Australia in a similar fashion as he kept chasing deliveries on the fourth and fifth stump lines. This weakness has really troubled Kohli for his entire career, and in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland really exploited it to the tilt.  Speaking of the Headingley Test, Rahul and Jaiswal showed no signs of nerves as the duo exhibited a clear game plan against the England pace attack. Rahul and Jaiswal saw off the new ball within the first hour. However, the duo were quick to pounce on loose deliveries.  Also Read: KL Rahul’s ‘unfair treatment’ triggers debate; ‘Come on, it’s been a decade’; Manjrekar disagrees; ‘Nobody would dare…’ “Deliveries outside the off stump, full, have been left alone. Jaiswal has done that. Anything that has been pitched right up into the stumps, he has driven. Anything that has been wide, he has looked to score on. KL Rahul has not touched one delivery or attempted to play one single delivery that’s been full, just outside off. Anything that has been wide, he has gone with a covered drive,” said Manjrekar while commentating in the first session on Day 1 of the first Test. “So a lot of what you’re seeing is being created by these two batters, and my hat’s off to them. We know of a former batter who would have gone after that delivery and got himself into trouble. But not these two,” he added. It must be mentioned that Rahul’s dismissal eventually came when he chased a delivery bowled well outside off. The right-hander went for a big booming drive and ended up losing his wicket to Brydon Carse for 42.  ‘This is a young batting line-up’ India have handed a debut to Sai Sudharsan in the first Test. The left-hander would be batting at No.3. Karun Nair has also returned to the Test playing XI after eight years. He would be batting at No.6. Sanjay Manjrekar said that this might be a young batting line-up, but all of the members chosen in the playing XI have good technique, which would help the team. “That’s why I believe this is a young batting line-up. But when you look at their batting technique, they have the technique to survive in challenging test conditions. Sai Sudarshan as well. T20 Sensation will come and defend well. Down the order, Rishabh Pant has a good defence,” said Manjrekar.  “Jadeja as well. Karun Nair, I’m not sure how he’ll go. But these two have shown that, for openers, they’re just ideal with their defensive technique,” he added. Earlier, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and asked India to bat first. The hosts are playing with a lone spinner, Shoaib Bashir. 

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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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Exclusive | If Jasprit Bumrah is even 75–80% fit, I’d still want him in the XI: Ex-England captain David Gower | Cricket News

Exclusive | If Jasprit Bumrah is even 75–80% fit, I’d still want him in the XI: Ex-England captain David Gower | Cricket News

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Jasprit Bumrah of India during a nets session. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) NEW DELHI: When India take the field against England in the opening Test at Headingley in Leeds, new Test captain Shubman Gill will be counting on his premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah to do what he does best: strike early, rattle the English batters, knock over stumps, induce edges, and most importantly, give India a 1-0 lead in the series.However, with BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirming that Bumrah will not feature in all five Tests, Gill will have to manage his spearhead’s workload smartly and deploy him strategically across the series.Former England captain David Gower believes Gill must be tactical in how he uses Bumrah, India’s biggest bowling weapon. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Bumrah has an impressive record in England, with 37 wickets in 9 Tests. Overall, he has picked up 60 wickets in 14 Tests against England.As India gear up for the high-profile five-match series starting June 20, TimesofIndia.com caught up with the legendary Gower, who represented England in 117 Tests, scoring 8,231 runs at an average of 44.25, including 18 centuries and 39 half-centuries.India are travelling to England with a relatively inexperienced squad, led by Shubman Gill. Should they be underestimated? Do you think this team can go there and create history?Let’s put it this way—every team travels intending to make history and do well. I remember, many years ago, when we toured India, Australia, or even the West Indies—though that was rarer—we didn’t expect to win. But every team travels with positive thoughts. Yes, when you lose two of your greatest players from the past decade, like India have, you do lose some experience. Take Virat Kohli, for example. A couple of tours ago, he struggled in England, then came back and used that experience to produce fantastic cricket. You need to acquire that experience, and quickly. International cricket conditions vary, but perhaps not as much as they used to. It’s not quite as daunting for Indian players to come to England now as it was 20–30 years ago. India’s first Test win in England came quite late—it was under Ajit Wadekar. But in the last 20–30 years, there has been a lot of good history. A positive attitude will help. That said, England will certainly be pleased not to be facing those two Indian greats this time. On paper, it makes their task a bit easier. But England won’t take this series lightly. India remain strong—even with change and transition, teams can surprise people. Poll Should India be underestimated due to their relatively inexperienced squad? It’s Shubman Gill’s first assignment as a Test captain, and that too in England. Do you think he’ll be under pressure?Every captain is under pressure. And these days, it’s perhaps even more intense than in my time. Ultimately, it’s the results that dictate the reaction from fans and media. In my day, we had newspapers and a bit of TV to deal with. Now, there are thousands of media outlets and social media reactions are instant. The good news for Shubman is that there’s usually a degree of understanding when a new captain takes over, especially under such circumstances. Teams often rally behind a new captain—they’re all in the same boat. As a captain, yes, you have to lead and make decisions, but you shouldn’t be alone. Teammates should be encouraged to contribute ideas. That collective spirit is essential. As a player, Shubman’s runs have mostly come in India. He didn’t have a great tour of Australia, so that might weigh on his mind. He is a beautiful player, but getting runs now is vital to solidify his position as captain. Of course, England’s bowling attack is still good, despite some injuries and form concerns. Shubman will need to find his method against them. That’s part of the challenge.India are going through a transition. For Gautam Gambhir, as the new coach, do you think this series will be a big test? He’ll also be guiding Shubman Gill on his first tour as Test captain.Absolutely. The relationship between a new captain and the coach is crucial. They must be on the same page. Captaincy is about communication—instilling plans in the players, and making them work. If the coach and captain are aligned, it becomes easier. If not, it can be tricky. That’s why you appoint experienced people—to offer wisdom and guidance. That said, I still believe the captain should lead. He’s the one making decisions on the field, adjusting bowling changes, responding in real-time. Good off-field support helps, but it’s Shubman’s job to establish himself as the leader.KL Rahul is now the most senior batter in the squad, and Karun Nair has made a comeback after seven years. Do you think they’ll be the ones to shoulder the batting responsibility? Yes. When you lose two greats, the next senior players become vital. I’ve always enjoyed watching KL Rahul. He’s human—he’ll make mistakes—but he’s a very good player. This is a great opportunity for him to use his experience and support the new captain. No matter how cricket evolves, certain truths remain. Good leadership matters, but so does individual responsibility. Every player must take ownership of their batting, bowling, fielding—and contribute ideas. That’s how a team becomes successful.Jasprit Bumrah may not be available for all five Tests. What should India’s approach be with him? Should he play early or be preserved for the later stages?Jasprit Bumrah is a fantastic bowler—world-class. His fitness is crucial. If I were England, I’d prefer he doesn’t play at all! If India need to manage his workload, they must be strategic—look at pitch conditions, the opposition, and figure out where he can make the most impact. English pitches are usually decent—not overly bowler-friendly—so someone of Bumrah’s quality can be the difference. If he’s even 75–80% fit, I’d still want him in the XI. India will need to be smart and flexible, depending on how he’s feeling and what conditions…

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IND vs ENG: How to bat in England? Sachin Tendulkar shares tips for inexperienced Indian batting | Cricket News

IND vs ENG: How to bat in England? Sachin Tendulkar shares tips for inexperienced Indian batting | Cricket News

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Sachin Tendulkar; Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja. NEW DELHI: Legendary Sachin Tendulkar, whose name now adorns the Test series between England and India — alongside Jimmy Anderson, shared his tips for the inexperienced Indian batting unit in Headingley, Leeds for the start of the five-match Test series.Led by Shubman Gill, who faces a trial by fire not just as a batter but also as a captain, India come into the series as a team in transition. With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin retired in the last six months, India are in uncharted territory in many ways.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Three of India’s potential top order batters – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair – would play their first Test in England. Only Nair and KL Rahul average over 40 against the red ball in the UK.“If you look at it, Yashaswi has now travelled a fair bit. He’s been to South Africa, he’s been to Australia and he’s played against some reasonable bowling attacks. So, though he’s new, he’s had that exposure,” said Tendulkar in a virtual media interaction. “KL Rahul, again, has been around for a long time now and is an experienced player. Poll Which aspect of Sachin Tendulkar’s advice do you think is most crucial for the Indian batting unit? “If Sai Sudarshan plays, I’ve had a look at him, he looked impressive. The technique looks good to me. Shubman has a fair amount of experience now. ‘Wait until August to see what kind of style it’s going to be’: Shubman Gill ahead of Headingley Test “And, if you look at Karun Nair at five, then Karun also has tasted success at international level. So, I feel up to five, there is a reasonable amount of experience. Karun has played County cricket also.“Every day, every session may produce a new challenge. Sometimes the journey would be smooth, sometimes it would be rocky. But that’s part of a long series. There are going to be ups and downs. Not all sessions are going to be smooth. And, it won’t be a comfortable ride all the time.“But when you are in a dominant position, we must make it count. And make sure that the opposition pays a price for that. So, the sessions won should be the focus of the team. How many sessions can we win in a Test match? And then we need to go hour-by-hour, session-by-session, and then, you know, day-by-day. But take small steps at a time and keep constructing on that solid foundation.”Tendulkar stressed that the first Test in Headingley will be pivotal to how the series shapes up.“First Test is always important. To build a solid foundation in Headingley is going to be critical. And if we are able to do that, then we could construct something that we would remember, you know, 20 years down the line,” stated Tendulkar. ‘Ginormous talent pool’: Ben Stokes warns against underestimating India in post-Kohli-Rohit era While India will be figuring their way out in England, they will also have to face the ‘Bazball’ challenge – an aggressive approach to playing Test cricket, introduced under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.Tendulkar stressed that it is the beauty of the sport where shots and playing style evolves. He recollected when former Zimbabwe batter Andy Flower played the reverse sweep against India spinners and it was considered a unique choice. The 52-year-old even recalled his sweeps were considered a ‘dangerous’ shot against Shane Warne.“I know that England have been playing aggressively. And that’s their style of play. This is the brand of cricket that they have decided to play. And one should not be too overawed by how they are playing. They will play their brand of cricket and we need to play our brand of cricket, whatever brand suits us to our playing combination,” claimed Tendulkar.“With time, a number of things are changing. The formats of the game have become shorter and that has encouraged players to play different brand of cricket. Nick Knight EXCLUSIVE: On Shubman Gill and absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in England “I remember in the year 2000, when Zimbabwe had come to India, Andy Flower was playing reverse sweep against our spinners. I said at that time that Andy is 8-10 years ahead of the rest of the guys, as far as that shot is concerned. And today it is considered a normal shot.“With time a number of things change. I think the approach which has changed is mostly because of the change in format, which has allowed the batters to go out in the nets and practice that shot.“I remember when I was playing against Warne and I swept the ball, number of guys would say it’s a dangerous shot, but I felt totally comfortable playing that shot because I had practiced (it). So, it eventually boils down to whatever approach you adapt. If you’ve practiced, then you feel comfortable.“The eventual thing that both teams look to do is they want to own that space. And by using this approach, if you can own that space and put pressure on each other, so be it,” he added. James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar with the new trophy for India vs England Test series. (Pic courtesy – BCCI) The Anderson-Tendulkar TrophyTendulkar revealed he found out about the decision to name the trophy after him and the former England seamer Jimmy Anderson a month ago. While travelling in Spain, the Master Blaster was notified of the decision and admitted it was a “nice recognition.”At the same time, he deemed it important to reach out to the family of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, whose name featured on the trophy earlier. After discussions with the BCCI, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the ICC Chairman Jay Shah, Tendulkar was able to convince the stakeholders to present the winning captain with a newly-instituted Pataudi Medal for Excellence.Tendulkar, who scored Test hundreds in England on tours…

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IND vs ENG: 'No Virat, no Rohit —It feels strange'; KL Rahul on a new era in Indian cricket | Cricket News

IND vs ENG: ‘No Virat, no Rohit —It feels strange’; KL Rahul on a new era in Indian cricket | Cricket News

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KL Rahul addressed the upcoming five-match Test series against England starting Friday at Headingley, Leeds, discussing the impact of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s retirements and expressing support for teammate Karun Nair’s return to the Indian team after eight years.The absence of Kohli and Sharma, who announced their Test retirements in May, leaves significant gaps in India’s batting lineup at opening and number four positions. Kohli, 36, concluded his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches, ranking fourth in India’s all-time Test run-scorers.“Virat and Rohit have been the pillars of Indian cricket for the last decade or so, and not having them around will be a huge miss. In my whole career so far, I have never walked into a team where there is no Virat or Rohit. The 50-odd Test matches that I have played, either Virat or Rohit or both of them have been there. To walk into that dressing room feels a bit strange. But of course, you have to respect their decision. They have given absolutely everything for the country and they will remain legends of Indian cricket. But it’s time for the rest of us to step up,” Rahul told Delhi Capitals media team.Karun Nair’s return to the Indian team comes after impressive recent performances, including a double century against England Lions in Canterbury and 198 runs in eight matches for Delhi Capitals during IPL 2025. IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant opens up on chemistry with Shubman Gill and England challenge Nair, 33, made his Test debut against England in Mohali in 2016 and scored an unbeaten 303 in his third Test in Chennai. He played only three more Tests against Australia in 2017 before being dropped due to poor form.“We started playing cricket as 11-year-old boys together and we have been on this journey ever since. Both of us have had our ups and downs. He got his opportunity, scored a triple hundred, faced a bit of tough time after that for a lot of reasons. But what has stood out is the way he has performed in the last 2-3 years,” Rahul said.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?“It’s been great to see how he has gone back to basics. We have spoken about his time in the UK and him having played County cricket, and the difficulties and the challenges that he faced. To have that drive to make a comeback to the Indian team despite all the hardships is commendable. I hope both of us can play for a very long time for the Indian team,” he added.Regarding his own preparation for the series, Rahul began immediately after the IPL season.“I started with my preparations for the England series right after the IPL. I spoke to my coach as well to get prepared for this assignment. It’s always a challenge coming to England as they are a pretty good side, especially when they play at home. It’s going to be a challenge for all of us as we are a comparatively young team.”The first Test at Headingley, Leeds, will mark the beginning of the 2025/26 World Test Championship cycle for both teams.

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In England, KL Rahul needs to make his experience count

In England, KL Rahul needs to make his experience count

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Kolkata: Expectation never rested easily on KL Rahul, more so after a promising start that saw him score hundreds at Sydney, Colombo and Kingston on his first three tours in 2014-15. Indian batters aren’t granted a quiet entry. And there Rahul was, setting the pulse racing with his tempered aggression and silken touch. Slipping from that high into a limbo where he was repeatedly uncertain of a place in the eleven before being passed over for captaincy, this is as challenging a terrain as it can get for a cricketer. Where does he go from here? Delhi Capitals batter KL Rahul during the 2025 IPL. (AFP) Rahul is 33. It may still be his destiny to be remembered as a remarkable batter with an envious record. Most batting greats find their feet in their early 20s before having to deal with doubts that creep in. In Rahul’s case though, it didn’t help that almost immediately after his debut he found himself pushed around in the batting order when he should have been slowly nudged into the batting core. Ill-managed transitions and quick-fix strategies are to blame for this, something Indian cricket has been guilty of countless times. He has also not enjoyed the rub of the green. Conviction wasn’t always top-notch. Commanding where comfortable, quiet elsewhere, Rahul’s returns haven’t always justified the talent he emerged with. It didn’t also help that he appeared distant. Virat Kohli commanded the camera even in his most vulnerable phase, but Rahul always looked human. The numbers don’t lie too. Rahul averages 39.62 at home, 25.72 in Australia, 28.38 in South Africa, and most relevantly — 34.11 in England. Shubman Gill is the captain, and considering the long rope India captains normally get these days, it’s almost certain Rahul won’t ever be captain. Which leaves him with the next best job – raise his game and become India’s batting lynchpin. This is significant too because never has the absence of senior players since the early 2010s looked this acute for India. The buck stops with the captain but without support from players who can influence the game, confidence can take a beating. For a long time the batting group has had one or more selfless seniors who would happily pass on their insights. India now find themselves in a position where a man who has played only three Tests in England has been chosen to lead there. In hindsight, Kohli’s absence looks like an irreparable loss. But it’s also an opportunity for Rahul to find his calling. That it comes in England of all places must be good news. Across nine Tests over two tours in 2018 and 2021-22, Rahul has scored 597 runs, including two centuries. That he opened in all but one of those Tests must work in his favour when the team management convenes to pick Yashasvi Jaiswal’s partner. Though there is still no clarity on who will bat at No.4 if Gill comes in at one-drop, Rahul’s numbers as opener in England boosts his case. India also need that bit of assurance at the top considering the largely inexperienced batting order till Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja come in. Rahul needs this as well. He would love another opportunity to prove he isn’t a wasted talent. He has had a quiet ascendency in the past 18 months — he hit 66 (India’s top score) in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, an unbeaten 34 in the 2025 Champions Trophy final, and enjoyed a rich vein of form in IPL where he scored a hundred for the first time since 2022. But red-ball cricket is where he must peak. The hesitation in putting so much faith in Rahul is not without reason. Since averages are still a definitive way of measuring a batter’s worth in red-ball cricket, Rahul’s career curve raises a few red flags. Between December, 2016 and September, 2018 he didn’t hit a hundred even though he was averaging around 33. That dropped to 22.23 across 15 Tests between 2018 and 2019, making his position untenable. He made a resounding comeback on the 2021 tour of England, scoring 84 in the first Test at Nottingham and an admirable 129 at Lord’s before going off the boil. A pulsating hundred at Centurion a few months later raised hope, but he again went off the radar for nearly two years. There are mitigating factors though. Not always being the first pick meant the pressure to perform was a tad higher than for the rest. Add to it injuries that sidelined him for several months at a time. Rahul cares though. When the rest of the side was falling to flashy shots in Australia on the last tour, he built his innings by leaving the ball. He faced 551 balls in that series, next only to Jaiswal’s 732, though the resistance didn’t always translate into big runs. But India’s batting is in a generational flux, probably why it’s not the worst thing to let Rahul navigate through the choppy waters early on and set the stage for the rest. There wouldn’t be a greater act of leadership if Rahul pulls that off.

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No Shubman Gill at No. 4, KL Rahul not to open: India's batting unit for 5 England Tests finalised by ex-BCCI selector

No Shubman Gill at No. 4, KL Rahul not to open: India’s batting unit for 5 England Tests finalised by ex-BCCI selector

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India’s upcoming England Test series, which is scheduled to start from June 20, will see a new generation take over the mantle, with the appointment of Shubman Gill as the new red-ball skipper. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin are not part of the Test setup anymore, having announced their retirements. Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are the only remaining members from the previous core group. India’s top order is likely to bear a new look with Sai Sudharsan set to make his Test debut, and Karun Nair expected to make a comeback after eight years. A former BCCI selector predicted Shubman Gill and KL Rahul’s batting positions. Many fans thought that with the retirement of Rohit, Gill would open the innings with young Yashasvi Jaiswal. But Sudharsan’s arrival brings in additional depth and the GT batter was in good form in IPL 2025. Ex-BCCI selector predicts India’s top order Speaking to Hindustan Times, former India cricketer and ex-BCCI selector Venkatapathy Raju weighed in on the probable batting template which head coach Gautam Gambhir will employ in the opening Test vs England. Raju also felt that Gill could make the No. 3 slot his own, especially with the inclusion of Sudharsan. Meanwhile, Raju, who was a selector for India’s victorious 2007 World T20 squad, also felt that Rahul could fill in at No. 4, which had long been Kohli’s position. “I think Gill can be no. 3. So you’ve got Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudarshan and Karun Nair. You can choose from these three in that opening slot. Gill can be No. 3 and No. 4 can be KL Rahul. So that adds a little more strength in the batting,” he said. Predicting the opening pair, he added, “And then you’ve got Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jaleja. You’ve got all these guys coming back. Gill can come number three. It’s just my opinion. We’re not talking about what they’ve planned. So I think if you ask me, because he’s leading, so he’ll get enough time to just relax and then walk into the bat happily. So Jaiswal and Sudharsan can open, with Gill at No. 3 and KL No. 4. No.5 can be Pant.” Kohli’s departure will also see Rahul fall under immense pressure, if he bats in the No. 4 slot. Kohli took over in that slot from Sachin Tendulkar in 2013, and had never batted at No. 4 in Tests before that, but soon made it his own. After Kohli pulled out of the home series vs England last year, Rahul filled in at No. 4 in the first Test in Hyderabad and registered 86 and 22, before missing rest of the series due to injury. Watch India tour of England from 3:30 PM, June 20th onwards LIVE On Sony Sports Ten 1 & Sony Sports Ten 5 channels

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Gautam Gambhir’s mother stable, coach to rejoin squad in England on June 17: Report

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Head coach Gautam Gambhir is all set to rejoin the Indian team in Leeds on Tuesday, 17 June, three days ahead of the first Test in a five-match series against England. Gambhir will fly out on Tuesday and is expected to link up with the squad the same day. Gambhir had returned home to be with his mother, who was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack on 11 June. Her condition has since improved. “His mother is doing well now. Gautam will leave tomorrow and join the squad the same day,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by PTI. Gambhir had travelled with the Indian team earlier in June, overseeing the preparations of the young side led by Shubman Gill. However, he missed the intra-squad match between India and India A in Beckenham. In his absence, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, and bowling coach Morne Morkel supervised the preparations during the practice game. The final day of the intra-squad match, which was scheduled from 14 to 17 June, was called off after the team management expressed satisfaction with the match simulations, thereby granting the players an additional day’s rest. Prior to the four-day intra-squad match, several Test specialists-including Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, and KL Rahul-featured in four-day games against the England Lions. Karun Nair scored a double century in the first warm-up match, while KL Rahul impressed in the second game in Northampton. Gambhir will face some key selection decisions, as India have yet to finalise the composition of their batting line-up. While Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are expected to continue opening the innings, the No. 3 position remains uncertain. Shubman Gill, who previously occupied that spot, is expected to move down to No. 4. Karun Nair appears to be the frontrunner for the No. 3 role, though Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran are also in contention. The all-rounder’s slot will likely be contested between Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy. India also have three spin-bowling options in Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. India and England will meet in the first Test at Headingley in Leeds between June 20 and 24. Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: Jun 16, 2025

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