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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I was overwhelmed': Gill on becoming India's new test captain
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill, looks on as head coach Gautam Gambhir address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill , left , and head coach Gautam Gambhir poses for picture after addressing a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill , left , and head coach Gautam Gambhir poses for picture after addressing a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill, looks on as head coach Gautam Gambhir address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill , left , and head coach Gautam Gambhir poses for picture after addressing a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Shubman Gill admitted he was surprised and excited when he was named as India's new test captain. Gill was appointed last month following the test retirements of the last two captains, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Advertisement He met the media in Mumbai on Thursday before India leaves for the five-test series against England starting on June 20 in Leeds. "I was overwhelmed to learn that I had been presented with the opportunity to lead India,' Gill said. "It is a big responsibility and I am looking forward to a great challenge in England.' Sharma and Kohli were already established cricket greats when they became captains, but Gill, while aggressive, has yet to become a consistent, elite batter marked by match-winning performances. From 32 tests, he's scored 1,893 runs and five centuries at an average of 35. He wants to lead by example and get on the same wavelength as his teammates. Advertisement 'As captain, you want to win every match, but when I am out there as a batter, my focus is only on scoring as many runs as possible for the benefit of my team,' he said. "Having said that, averages and numbers are not something I look at, but I do want to lead with my performances with the bat. 'There isn't a particular style (of captaincy) that I want to follow. It comes on through experience and the more you play, your personal style then comes through to people. I like good communication with my players. It makes them feel secure and gives them comfort as per their strengths or weaknesses. As captain, I would like to have that bond with my players, because secure players will give you a 100%.' Star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah led India twice in Australia last winter in Sharma's absence and likely would have been named captain ahead of Gill, but his back issues will limit his appearances against England. The selectors also hope Gill, at 25, will have a long and fruitful reign. Bumrah won't feature in all five tests owing to fitness and workload issues. Advertisement 'We haven't decided which tests Bumrah will or won't play,' India coach Gautam Gambhir said. 'It will depend on his fitness, workload and also the status of the series. Like I said ahead of the Champions Trophy, it is an opportunity for someone else to put their hand up. We have enough bowling quality in the squad, and our attack's composition will be decided based on both ground and overhead conditions.' 'We are used to pressure' No Kohli, Sharma or Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired last summer, plus Bumrah unavailable for all five tests. Gill and Gambhir played down concerns about their chances. 'It is not easy to fill their shoes, but it doesn't put any additional pressure on us,' Gill said. 'That pressure to win is there in every series and we are used to it. It depends on how we adapt to play and win in such pressure conditions. Advertisement 'We have a good batting and bowling combination. It is a good mix of experience and youth in our squad." Gambhir added, 'Yes, it is a clean slate. But such things don't matter. When you go on a big tour, everyone is excited to perform and that leaves you in a good mental space. We have quality players in our test squad, who are willing to express themselves and do something special." Gill has played one test in England. Amongst India's batters, only Lokesh Rahul and Rishabh Pant have previously toured there. A young squad faces a daunting task against an experienced England side led by star allrounder Ben Stokes. Even with Kohli, Sharma and Ravichandran, India hasn't won a test series in England since 2007. It lost 4-0 in 2011, then 3-1 in 2014 and 4-1 in 2018. It led 2-1 in 2021 but the fifth test was postponed until 2022 owing to the pandemic. That delayed series ended 2-2. Advertisement 'England plays a certain (attacking) way, which we saw when they came to India last (in 2024),' Gill said. 'It presents a great challenge. So we have to be proactive with our thinking and our execution as well.' Tragedy in Bengaluru Gambhir was asked about the tragedy in Bengaluru on Wednesday night when 11 fans died in a stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium while trying to join the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden Indian Premier League title. 'I was never a believer that we need to have roadshows,' Gambhir said. "Even when I was playing, I had the same statement – when we won the 2007 T20 World Cup, I was of the opinion that we shouldn't have roadshows. (The) life of people is far more important. Advertisement 'If at all there is need for a celebration, it can be held in a closed-door environment or inside a stadium. It is very tragic what happened yesterday and my heart goes out to those who have lost their loved ones. Hopefully in future, nothing like this happens because we are responsible citizens and we should take care of all this.' ___ AP cricket:
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
IPL 2025 Suspended for One Week, Confirms BCCI
India's Board of Control for Cricket has suspended the remainder of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 for one week due to India-Pakistan border tensions. "The decision was taken by the IPL Governing Council after due consultation with all key stakeholders following the representations from most of the franchisees, who conveyed the concern and sentiments of their players, and also the views of the broadcaster, sponsors, and fans," said Devajit Saikia, BCCI Secretary. Advertisement The development came a day after the IPL cancelled Thursday's match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) midway into the first innings because the airport in Dharamsala and the ones in nearby areas had shutdown. "While the BCCI reposes full faith in the strength and preparedness of our armed forces, the Board considered it prudent to act in the collective interest of all stakeholders," the statement read. BCCI says any updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a "comprehensive assessment of the situation" in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders. IPL 2025 is the 18th edition of the tournament, featuring 10 teams competing in 74 matches. It is a franchise Twenty20 cricket league organized by the BCCI. The matches are held across 13 cities in India, with the Kolkata Knight Riders being the defending champions. The format involves teams playing intra-group and selected inter-group matches. The top four qualify: the top two face off in Qualifier 1, the others in the Eliminator. The Qualifier 2 winner reaches the final
India Gazette
12-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
"We should respect his decision...": BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Virat's Test retirement
New Delhi [India], May 12 (ANI): After Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla hailed the star batter for his contribution in the longest format, saying that while they do not feel good about him leaving, the board respects his personal decision. In a massive development ahead of the England tour of five matches, which will kickstart India's ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Tests after 14 years, marking an end to a brilliant career spanning 14 years and 123 Tests. Speaking to ANI, Shukla said, 'The contribution of Virat Kohli for Test Cricket and India has been great. Any amount of praise is less. We are not feeling good that he has retired from Test Cricket. But it is his individual decision, and BCCI never puts pressure on a player for retirement. We should respect his decision. He must have thought about something before arriving to it. We will surely miss him in Test cricket as he is such a great batter.' He made his Test debut in June 2011 against the West Indies. While his first Test tour was a massive disappointment with just 76 runs in five innings, a young Virat made a name for himself with some serious, counter-attacking knocks in the coming days. His rise as a Test player started with his maiden ton against Australia at Adelaide in 2012, when he made 116 in 213 balls. In a tour where no other could touch 300 runs for India and giants like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Virender Sehwag looked a shadow of their dominant selves, Virat top-scored for India with 300 runs in four Tests, including a century and fifty. Between 2011 and 2015, he made 2,994 runs in 41 Tests at an average of 44.03, with 11 centuries and 12 fifties in 72 innings. Between 2016 and 2019, Virat had one of the strongest batting primes ever for a Test cricketer, piling up 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79, with 16 centuries and 10 fifties in 69 innings and the best score of 254*. This also included seven double centuries, most by a captain in Test cricket history. However, the 2020s have not been great for the superstar batter, having made just 2,028 runs in 39 Tests at an underwhelming average of 30.72, with just three centuries and nine fifties to show in 69 innings. His numbers received a boost from a fine 2023, where he made 671 runs in eight Tests at an average of 55.91, with two centuries and two fifties in 12 innings. During this whole time frame, Virat battled some notable weaknesses in the format, notably against deliveries outside the off-stump line and against spinners. He ended last year with just 382 runs in 10 Tests at a shocking average of 22.47, with just one century and fifty in 19 innings. His last Test outing was the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour to Australia from November-January, where he made just 190 runs in nine innings at an average of 23.75, with his century at Perth being a highlight. That century was his first since July 2023, when he hit a ton against the West Indies at Port of Spain in 2023. Also, his last century at home came against Australia in early 2023 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Ahmedabad. Virat's career has been about overcoming several setbacks and taking Indian cricket to new highs. Be it smashing a peak Australian attack led by Mitchell Johnson for 692 runs including four centuries during Australia tour in 2014-15 and announcing himself as the new captain, guiding India to ICC World Test Championship maces, having a dream-like, redemption tour to England in 2018 worth 593 runs and five fifty plus scores after managing just 134 runs in 10 innings during his last time in UK or braving world-class bowling attacks in Centurion, Melbourne, Perth, Edgbaston and at his own home with some world-class knocks, the 36-year-old has given fans tonnes of memories to replay and cherish forever. (ANI)
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"Should Respect His Decision...": BCCI's Big Take On Virat Kohli Retirement
After Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla hailed the star batter for his contribution in the longest format, saying that while they do not feel good about him leaving, the board respects his personal decision. In a massive development ahead of the England tour of five matches, which will kickstart India's ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Tests after 14 years, marking an end to a brilliant career spanning 14 years and 123 Tests. Speaking to ANI, Shukla said, "The contribution of Virat Kohli for Test Cricket and India has been great. Any amount of praise is less. We are not feeling good that he has retired from Test Cricket. But it is his individual decision, and BCCI never puts pressure on a player for retirement. We should respect his decision. He must have thought about something before arriving to it. We will surely miss him in Test cricket as he is such a great batter." He made his Test debut in June 2011 against the West Indies. While his first Test tour was a massive disappointment with just 76 runs in five innings, a young Virat made a name for himself with some serious, counter-attacking knocks in the coming days. His rise as a Test player started with his maiden ton against Australia at Adelaide in 2012, when he made 116 in 213 balls. In a tour where no other could touch 300 runs for India and giants like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Virender Sehwag looked a shadow of their dominant selves, Virat top-scored for India with 300 runs in four Tests, including a century and fifty. Between 2011 and 2015, he made 2,994 runs in 41 Tests at an average of 44.03, with 11 centuries and 12 fifties in 72 innings. Between 2016 and 2019, Virat had one of the strongest batting primes ever for a Test cricketer, piling up 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79, with 16 centuries and 10 fifties in 69 innings and the best score of 254*. This also included seven double centuries, most by a captain in Test cricket history. However, the 2020s have not been great for the superstar batter, having made just 2,028 runs in 39 Tests at an underwhelming average of 30.72, with just three centuries and nine fifties to show in 69 innings. His numbers received a boost from a fine 2023, where he made 671 runs in eight Tests at an average of 55.91, with two centuries and two fifties in 12 innings. During this whole time frame, Virat battled some notable weaknesses in the format, notably against deliveries outside the off-stump line and against spinners. He ended last year with just 382 runs in 10 Tests at a shocking average of 22.47, with just one century and fifty in 19 innings. His last Test outing was the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour to Australia from November-January, where he made just 190 runs in nine innings at an average of 23.75, with his century at Perth being a highlight. That century was his first since July 2023, when he hit a ton against the West Indies at Port of Spain in 2023. Also, his last century at home came against Australia in early 2023 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Ahmedabad. Virat's career has been about overcoming several setbacks and taking Indian cricket to new highs. Be it smashing a peak Australian attack led by Mitchell Johnson for 692 runs including four centuries during Australia tour in 2014-15 and announcing himself as the new captain, guiding India to ICC World Test Championship maces, having a dream-like, redemption tour to England in 2018 worth 593 runs and five fifty plus scores after managing just 134 runs in 10 innings during his last time in UK or braving world-class bowling attacks in Centurion, Melbourne, Perth, Edgbaston and at his own home with some world-class knocks, the 36-year-old has given fans tonnes of memories to replay and cherish forever.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
'Virat Kohli, please don't retire, Indian team needs you more than ever': Ambati Rayudu's public plea
Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has urged Virat Kohli to 'reconsider' his decision amid growing reports of the latter's Test retirement call. Several reports are circulating stating that Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) that he no longer wants to play the longest format of the game. India are slated to travel to England next for the five-match Test series, and reportedly, Kohli has decided to bid adieu to his long-cherished format. Kohli has been witnessing a lean patch in Tests for five years, having scored just four centuries. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Kohli endured a hard time, scoring just 190 runs in nine innings. His numbers would have looked all the more abysmal had he not scored a century in the series opener in Perth. However, Rayudu feels Kohli still has a lot to offer the team in Tests. Taking to social media, he said that the Indian team needs Kohli more than ever and asked the former India captain to 'reconsider' his decision. It must be mentioned that Rohit Sharma retired from Tests earlier this week. If Kohli also joins Rohit, then India would be without its two most senior pros in England, and the team would have a relatively inexperienced batting order. "Virat Kohli please don't retire.. The Indian team needs you more than ever. You have so much more in the tank. Test cricket will not be the same without you walking out to battle it out for Team India.. Please reconsider," Rayudu wrote on X (formerly Twitter). In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Kohli kept on being dismissed in a similar fashion as he kept chasing deliveries bowled in the fourth-stump channel. The likes of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland made full merry of Kohli's apparent and well-known weakness in Tests. In the last five years, the right-hander has managed just four centuries in Tests. He started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy well, scoring a ton in the series opener in Perth. However, the returns started dwindling following the Perth Test as the weakness outside the off-stump got the better of Kohli. A dip in form has led to Kohli's average dipping to 46 in the longest format. He is also yet to breach the 10,000-run mark in Tests as he is 770 runs away from the landmark Kohli has so far featured in 123 Tests for India, leading the team in 68 matches. The former India captain's record in England is also not that great. In 17 Tests, he has scored 1096 runs at an average of 33.21 with two centuries and five fifties.
