A dressing room without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will feel strange: KL Rahul
Veteran batter KL Rahul has admitted it will feel strange to enter a dressing room without the presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, noting that he has never represented India without at least one of these stalwarts alongside him. Rahul will be India's most experienced batter on the tour of England, which begins on 20 June, in the absence of Rohit and Kohli, both of whom retired from Test cricket earlier this year.advertisementRahul spoke candidly, acknowledging that India will undoubtedly miss the experience and influence of Rohit and Kohli in England. However, he emphasised that it is now time for the next generation of cricketers to rise to the occasion and deliver.Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had initially suggested they would be available for the Test series in England, despite modest performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. However, during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, both announced their retirements from Test cricket, signalling the end of an era in Indian cricket.
Shubman Gill will captain India in the five-Test series in England, leading a relatively young squad in what promises to be a stern challenge — one that also marks the beginning of India's new World Test Championship cycle.advertisement'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 entire career so far, I've never walked into a team environment where neither Virat nor Rohit is present,' Rahul said in a conversation with Delhi Capitals.'In the 50-odd Test matches I've played, either Virat or Rohit — or both — have always been part of the side. To walk into that dressing room without them will certainly feel a bit strange. But of course, their decision must be respected.'They have given absolutely everything to the country and will forever remain legends of Indian cricket. But now, it's time for the rest of us to step up,' he added. Rohit Sharma was India's top scorer during the 2021–22 tour, amassing 368 runs across four Tests. KL Rahul followed closely with 315 runs in as many matches. Virat Kohli, leading the side with characteristic intensity, had India ahead 2–1 before the fifth and final Test was postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic.This time, Rahul will be expected to shoulder a major share of the run-scoring responsibility across the five-Test series. Gill, who has yet to fully find his feet overseas, is set to bat at No. 4 — a position previously occupied by Kohli. India have not yet confirmed their No. 3 for the opening Test at Headingley, with three contenders in the mix: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, and Karun Nair.India will, however, be bolstered by their experienced bowling unit, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. While the absence of the injured Mohammed Shami will be felt, India still boast a strong group with Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh expected to play key roles. They will be supported by the likes of Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.Must Watch
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