"Whole country was disheartened...": Rishabh Pant on Ahmedabad plane crash ahead of Leeds Test against England
Leeds [UK], June 18 (ANI): Ahead of the five-match series at Headingley against England, Team India's vice-captain Rishabh Pant expressed his feelings on the Ahmedabad plane crash, which happened on June 12.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference about the plane crash, Pant told the media, 'The whole country was disheartened, but at the same time, the only thing from our side is that we would be sticking to them on how we can make India happy. The emotions are always going to be high, as what happened in the crash, but at the same time, we will put our best foot forward for the country. How can we make them happy? That's added responsibility for us always.'
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft crashed into a hostel complex shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, killing 241 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. One passenger, Vishwas Kumar, survived the tragic incident.
India tour of England will take place from June to August 2025, with matches to be played at Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord's (London), Old Trafford (Manchester), and The Oval (London).
A new era beckons for India in the Test format as the modern-day giants gear up for their first assignment without the prized batting bigwigs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Shubman Gill, India's youngest Test captain, has taken the baton from Rohit to guide the nation to success and challenge for the World Test Championship mace.
India squad for England Test series: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
England on Wednesday announced its playing XI for the opening Test of the five-match series against India, which will kick off on June 20 at Headingley.
For the opening Test, England has retained the majority of the XI they fielded against Zimbabwe during the one-off Test last month. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will open for England, followed by Ollie Pope at number three.
England Playing XI for the 1st Test against India: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
ICC ready for four-day Tests in 27–29 WTC cycle
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is ready to sanction four-day Tests for smaller nations in the 2027–29 World Test Championship cycle, but India, Australia and England can still play the traditional five-day matches, according to a report here. The move to reduce matches by one day would be a significant change and can help smaller nations to play more Tests and longer series. 'During discussions last week at the WTC final at Lord's, the ICC chair, Jay Shah, is understood to have expressed his support for four-day Tests, with a view to sanctioning them in time for the 2027–29 WTC cycle,' a report in 'The Guardian' newspaper said. 'England, Australia and India would still be permitted to schedule five-Test series of five-day matches for the Ashes, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the newly named Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, the first iteration of which begins with the first Test between England and India at Headingley on Friday.'
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Ten-man India U23s lose lead and match against Tajikistan
New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): The India U23 men's national team suffered a 2-3 defeat at the hands of hosts Tajikistan, after being reduced to 10 men in a friendly match at the TALCO Arena, in Tursunzoda, Tajikistan, on Wednesday. The Blue Colts led 1-0 at half-time. Suhail Ahmad Bhat (33') and Parthib Sundar Gogoi (85') put India in the lead twice, but Ansor Khabibov (59') and Muhammadiqbol Davlatov (90+1') restored parity on both occasions, before Muhammadali Azizboev (90+5') struck the winner late in injury time. India midfielder Ayush Chhetri was sent off 10 minutes into the second half, as per the AIFF official website. In an even start to the game, India arguably had the clearer chance. Winger Mohammed Sanan sent in a cross towards Vinith Venkatesh at the far post. The latter's side-footed volley, however, lacked direction. Tajikistan had to wait till the half-hour mark for their first real chance of the game, when they earned a free-kick on their left flank. Faridun Davlatov rose above the sea of heads inside the India box to head it, but his effort went over. India capitalised on a counter-attacking opportunity just minutes later and took the lead. In the 33rd minute, Macarton Louis Nickson, breaking at speed down the right, sent a pinpoint low cross at the feet of an onrushing Suhail inside the Tajikistan box. The striker, with a single touch, put the ball past the goalkeeper, as the Blue Colts took the lead. Behind by a goal, the hosts looked determined to draw level before the half-time whistle, and came close on a couple of occasions. With five minutes of regulation time left in the first half, Ansor Khabibov broke free on the left and crossed it towards Shahboz Khabibov at the near post. India goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey, however, rushed in to punch the ball out. An injury-time free-kick from the right flank saw Faridun come close once again as he headed the ball, but a wall of Indian legs came in the way, before the ball was eventually cleared out of the area. While the second half began much in similar fashion, with both sides feeling out the cracks and crevasses in the others' defence, India suddenly found themselves at a disadvantage when midfielder Chhetri was shown a yellow card for the second time, for a tackle from behind. With the man advantage, the hosts soon equalised, Khabibov turning in a cross from Muso Khakhorov in the 59th minute. Despite the increasing number of Tajikistan attacks, India managed to take the lead a second time when Mohammed Aimen intercepted a ball near the half-line, catching the Tajikistan defence by surprise. He played an accurate through ball to Gogoi, who expertly rounded the keeper and scored. India's delight was not to last too long, however, as the hosts scored from two set-pieces in injury time. Muhammadiqbol drew Tajikistan level, turning in a free-kick from Abubakar Sulaymonov, before Azizboev nodded in a corner to complete a remarkable comeback for the hosts. (ANI)
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
"Hope they come back victorious": Kapil Dev extends best wishes to Shubman Gill-led Indian team ahead of England series
By Vipul Kashyap New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): As India prepares for a high-stakes Test series in England under the leadership of Shubman Gill, legendary cricketer Kapil Dev extended his best wishes to the young captain and the team on Wednesday. Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated tour, the former India skipper expressed his pride and optimism. 'We feel very proud and wish them all the luck. I hope they come back victorious,' said the 1983 World Cup-winning captain on the sidelines of an event here. Kapil also shared his thoughts on premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has made it clear that he does not want to take on the responsibility of leading the national side in Test cricket. Respecting Bumrah's stance, Kapil remarked, 'This is his personal views, to me the team is more important.' The fourth-ranked Test team will line up without its batting bigwigs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who bid adieu to the Test format last month. Along with the batting wizards, India won't have the presence of its frontline crafty off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India's squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana England Playing XI for the 1st Test against India: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir. (ANI)
