‘BCCI did not put any pressure on Rohit Sharma to retire from Test cricket': Board vice-president Rajeev Shukla
With Rohit Sharma stepping down, former chief selector MSK Prasad discusses potential candidates for India's Test captaincy, highlighting Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul. Prasad advocates for Bumrah to lead, citing his successful past as captain, while suggesting Gill focus on his batting before taking on captaincy. India's series in England starts June 20, 2025.
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United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
Team India lands in UK for five-test series
London, June 7 (UNI) The Indian cricket team has arrived in the United Kingdom ahead of their highly anticipated five-match Test series against England, marking the beginning of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Departing from Mumbai on Friday night, the squad landed in England with a refreshed lineup and a new leadership structure. Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain, succeeding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom have retired from the format. Rishabh Pant has been named vice-captain, signalling a generational shift in Indian Test cricket. The series will be contested for the newly named Tendulkar–Anderson Trophy, honouring two legends of the game. The first Test begins on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds, followed by matches at Edgbaston (July 2–6), Lord's (July 10–14), Old Trafford (July 23–27), and The Oval (August 4–8). In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on social media, debutant Sai Sudharsan expressed his excitement. 'It's good to be a part of the Indian cricket team, especially in a Test series. Welcome to the UK,' he said. Sudharsan, who had an impressive IPL season with the Gujarat Titans, is among the new faces in the red-ball squad. In a recent interview, he emphasised his team-first mentality, stating that 'winning means more than stats and milestones.' The atmosphere upon arrival was upbeat. Players were seen in good spirits as they interacted with fans and media. A light-hearted moment saw Jasprit Bumrah jokingly tease a teammate for wearing sunglasses at night — a glimpse of the camaraderie that has come to define the squad. This tour is being closely watched as it represents a significant transitional phase for Indian cricket. With a blend of experience and youth, Team India is looking to begin their WTC campaign on a strong note and mount a serious challenge on English soil. Cricket fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a riveting series between two of the sport's premier Test sides. UNI BDN BM
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma absence felt immediately after Team India lands in England: 'Get used to it. Time to witness…'
For the first time since 2011, an England-bound Indian Test team will not feature either Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. The two senior batters announced their retirement from the traditional format last month, leaving the BCCI selectors to pick a new-look Indian side, with Shubman Gill at the helm. But their absence was felt immediately after the Indian side landed in London on Saturday, amid no fans or media at the airport. From the airport to the practice ground, Adelaide had thronged with fans and media when Kohli landed with the Indian team for the tour of Australia last November. The 36-year-old, believed to be playing his final Test series in Australia, had made headlines even before the contest got underway. Such was the hype that Indian team management was forced to conduct a closed-door practice session, forcing fans to climb trees to catch a glimpse of the superstar. But none was seen on Saturday in London after the Gill-led side landed for the five-match Test series, starting June 20. In a video that went viral on social media, Indian journalist Vimal Kumar said, "I did not get to see that hype. Not a single fan or media personnel was seen." While few fans reckoned the aur of Test cricket was gone with the retirement of Kohli and Rohit, some feared it was the "downfall of Indian Test cricket." However, few remained optimistic, saying that the aura would return with Gill getting his bat to do the talking. The first question Gill was asked at the press conference in Mumbai earlier this week before the departure to London, was about the absence of Kohli and Rohit, and the pressure it would put on the young side. But the captain boldly dismissed it, saying it was just like any tough situation they had faced before. "Pressure is always there in every tour. Definitely, two very experienced players who played for such a long time and won so many times, very difficult to fill their space. But it is not a different kind of pressure, all of us players are used to it," he said in the pre-tour presser on Wednesday.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Aakash Chopra's captaincy advice to Shubman Gill: ‘You can take inspiration from Virat Kohli's success, his hunger for runs, his leadership'
When Virat Kohli took over the Test captaincy in 2014 in Adelaide, the side was filled with youngsters. It was a period of transition and required someone to come in and give the identity for the next decade with grooming players at disposal, and that's exactly what Kohli did and succeeded. Statistically, he is the best Indian captain in the format, and through his tenure, India has won some remarkable series both home and away. However, 11 years later, the side is in a similar conundrum with the retirement of veterans Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill has been given the responsibility to create his mark on the team for the next few years with a lot of youngsters. 'You can take inspiration from Virat Kohli's success, his hunger for runs, his leadership—but not necessarily his batting number,' said Aakash Chopra, speaking on JioStar. With Kohli not present, who will take the number four slot is up for debate. 'That's a very individual choice. Similarly, Shubman should play where he contributes best,' said Chopra after few experts rooting for Shubman to take the number four slot for the future. 'Batting position isn't about copying someone—it's about where you fit in the team and how it benefits the side. Learn from Kohli's mindset, play with an extra bowler if needed. That's what leaders do—make sacrifices for the team,' Chopra further stated. Chopra also suggested that India should form a leadership group. 'Form a leadership group—bring 4–5 players together and build a core. Include Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Create a pack of wolves. These are the guys who'll be with you today, in six months, and five years down the line.' 'With a young team, it's important that the captain grows with the group. Seniors and juniors often have different routines and circles—but with this new-look team, you have a chance to build a collective culture. It's a rare opportunity to create a bond and a story that the entire nation will be proud of,' he added.
