Latest news with #post-Kohli
India.com
a day ago
- Sport
- India.com
Who Did What In India vs India A: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shardul Thakur Shine In Closed-Door Match
photoDetails english 2915750 Updated:Jun 14, 2025, 08:51 AM IST 1. Shubman Gill Begins Captaincy Era with Confident Fifty 1 / 20 New skipper Shubman Gill silenced critics with a stylish half-century, gaining much-needed momentum ahead of the England Test series where he averages just 14.66 on English soil. 2. KL Rahul Continues Red-Hot Form in England 2 / 20 KL Rahul extended his sublime run with another composed fifty—adding to his earlier 116 vs England Lions—making a strong case for a crucial middle-order role in the England Tests. 3. Shardul Thakur Stakes Claim as India's Seam All-Rounder 3 / 20 Using swing-friendly conditions, Shardul Thakur picked key wickets and reminded selectors of his English experience—outperforming rival Nitish Reddy in the intra-squad selection race. 4. India Pays Tribute to Ahmedabad Plane Crash Victims 4 / 20 A minute's silence and black armbands marked a sombre start as Team India mourned the Air India crash victims—showing unity and compassion before battle. 5. No Live Streaming? Here's Why Fans Were Left in the Dark 5 / 20 Unlike the England Lions matches, the BCCI declared this a 'closed intra-squad game'—meaning no live streaming, scorecard, or media access, sparking widespread fan curiosity online. 6. Karun Nair's Earlier 204 Adds Pressure on Batting Contenders 6 / 20 Although not in action on Day 1, Karun Nair's double century in a prior warm-up has made selection trickier—especially for top-order hopefuls like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan. 7. Eyes on Nitish Reddy as Selection Tensions Build 7 / 20 Despite a quiet Day 1, young Nitish Kumar Reddy remains in contention for the seam-bowling all-rounder slot—making his duel with Thakur one to watch throughout the match. 8. Beckenham Conditions Aid Seamers Early On 8 / 20 Seamers like Thakur made early breakthroughs thanks to overcast skies and green-top conditions—echoing the challenges India will face at Headingley, Lord's, and The Oval. 9. Coach Gambhir Absent Due to Family Emergency 9 / 20 Head coach Gautam Gambhir missed Day 1 due to his mother's health emergency—though his tactical blueprint remains central to India's red-ball reboot post-Kohli and Rohit era. 10. Final Test Dress Rehearsal Before June 20 at Leeds 10 / 20 This intra-squad match is India's only remaining prep before the 1st Test vs England at Leeds—making every run, wicket, and tactical decision pivotal in shaping the playing XI. 11 / 20 12 / 20 13 / 20 14 / 20 15 / 20 16 / 20 17 / 20 18 / 20 19 / 20 20 / 20
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Who will lead India cricket team in Test format? Ravichandran Ashwin backs Bumrah and Jadeja amid Gill buzz
With Indian cricket team ODI and T20 captain Rohit Sharma stepping away from Test cricket and former captain Virat Kohli also retiring from the longest format, India now finds itself at a crucial turning point. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and the selection committee have to choose its new red-ball captain ahead of the five-match home series against England starting on June 20, 2025. 25-year-old Shubman Gill is currently seen as the top choice, but veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has reminded everyone that names like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja deserve equal attention. Is it too soon for Shubman Gil to take the mantle as the Indian Test format captain? Indian opening batter Shubman Gill is being groomed for leadership and has already led Gujarat Titans in the IPL. According to recent reports, Gill met head coach Gautam Gambhir and could be officially announced as the Test captain before the England series. His calm presence and strong performances make him a promising option. But Ashwin believes it's too early to hand him full control. He feels Gill could serve as an understudy to someone more experienced. 'Why not make him learn from a senior first?' he said on his YouTube channel. The 38-year-old off-spin bowler also put forward Jasprit Bumrah, who has led India in three Tests, as a strong candidate. Despite past back injuries, Ashwin compared Bumrah to Australia's Pat Cummins, who also had injury troubles but now captains in all formats. Then there's Ravindra Jadeja, now India's most experienced red-ball player after Rohit and Kohli's retirement. He has over 300 wickets and 3000-plus runs but has never captained the Test team. His venture as the captain for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL is regarded as quite underwhelming. Still, Ashwin thinks Jadeja's all-round quality and experience make him a serious option. May 6: Shubman Gill met chief selector Ajit AgarkarMay 7: Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricketMay 12: Virat Kohli retired from Test 19: Shubman Gill had a meeting with Gautam Gambhir at his residence for 4-5 hours when Delhi Capitals hosted Gujarat… He even suggested something new, asking each contender to present their long-term vision for Indian Test cricket, like they do in the Australian cricket team. That way, the captain isn't just picked on instinct, but also on ideas and leadership qualities. As the selectors prepare for a big decision, Ashwin's comments have added weight to the conversation. Gill may be in pole position, but the calls to back someone with more experience, especially in the post-Kohli and post-Rohit era cannot be ignored.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'Pity the person who has to follow ...': Atherton on player set to replace Virat Kohli at No.4 for England Tests
The country needs to find a quick fix to the no 4 spot left vacant by the retirement of Virat Kohli from tests (Image via X/@HouseOf_Cricket) With Virat Kohli no longer part of the Indian Test contingent, India is forced to answer a question that many find difficult to answer - who will take the number 4 spot in the team? The fact that India was blessed enough for decades as two gifted players making the role their own, in over three decades, the country will be without a confirmed played that fits into the No. 4 role. Speaking of the same, former England cricketer Michael Atherton shared his concerns on what lies ahead for India and the one Indian that assumes the No.4 role. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! While squad rebuilds and overhauls are necessary in the course of a team's development, India will find it rather difficult to adjust to life without star man Kohli, opined Atherton. With Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar marking their respective eras in the role, Team India heads to England without a confirmed batter to come in fourth. Kohli and Sachin have a combined 25,151 runs across 323 games. Virat Kohli was always a VIBE during India's practice sessions Speaking to Sky Sports, the former England international said, "We're not sure who is going to take his place at No. 4 yet, and you kind of pity the person who has to follow because you've just had about 15 years of Kohli and before that, it was Sachin Tendulkar." The veteran also added that this time period feels as if a new cycle of the World Test Championship is beckoning. Poll Who do you think should take the No. 4 spot in the Indian Test team post-Kohli? Karan Nair Shreyas Iyer KL Rahul Shubman Gill Heaping more praise on India's favorite No. 18, Atherton said that he enjoyed each of his 123 Tests and that he found it near impossible to take his eyes off of the 36-year-old as he did his magic from the crease. Kohli called time on his Test career on May 12, Monday, as he took to Instagram to post a an emotional message to communicate his decision. Is Shubman Gill India's best option at 4? While Michael Atherton pities the man who will come in at fourth for India in the post-Kohli era, the country will have to call upon a savior to help them out of this fix. Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are the most likely swaps for India, with the former consistently coming in at no 3 in recent times. The youngster has also been tipped to lead the side in England. As for Rahul, the frequency with which teams have made use of him to act as the fix to all batting problems forces one to consider the plausibility of his inclusion. Other, less likely alternatives for the role are Shreyas Iyer , Karan Nair and Sarfaraz Khan. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
After Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma's Retirement, 5 'Next Gen' Stars Who Can Take India Forward
Bengaluru: Virat Kohli sounded almost desolate while talking about his struggles against Fidel Edwards during his debut Test against the West Indies in 2011. It was not the beginning an ambitious young man desired. Instead of glory, there was anxiety and confusion. He ended that nearly 20 minutes of conversation at a Kingston restaurant with a plain yet powerful message: "Lekin mein chhorunga nahi (I will not leave it)". He did not leave the fight, hitting peaks between 2014 and 2019 that not many modern day cricketers have climbed. Runs and centuries flowed as the cricketing world marvelled at the transformation into a batting virtuoso who propelled India to some dizzying heights and memorable wins in Test cricket. However, it's also a blueprint for some of the young batters who have been tasked to helm the Indian cricket in the post-Kohli and Rohit Sharma era. Here's a detailed glance at a few of them: Shubman Gill Among the 'Next Generation' stars, none holds more significance than Shubman Gill, potentially India's premier batsman and Test skipper in the coming days. Perhaps, it's a coincidence but Gill finds himself in the same space as Kohli when he was at 25 — with a middling Test record. The Punjab man has played 32 Tests for 1893 runs at an average of 35. But Gill will now go to England where he has a modest record — 88 runs from three Tests at an average of 14.66. Can the Punjab man emulate his illustrious senior in turning around his fortunes at Old Blighty? Even without James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England have a capable pace unit and some handy spinners, suiting the home conditions. Like Kohli, Gill will have to bring in that iron-hearted discipline into his batting along with developing the tendency to bat closer to his body to cover the swing. Yashasvi Jaiswal Jaiswal is certain to open the innings in England and he has already done that job in the West Indies, South Africa, Australia and India. But the task will be different and tougher on his maiden trip to England. Jaiswal showed his technique and patience while notching up big runs in Australia and the West Indies at an average in excess of 44 and 80. But as a batter who loves the ball coming onto his bat, Jaiswal will face a sterner challenge in late swing in England. He will have to check his booming drives and rasping cuts, focusing more on leaves and selecting the right occasion to attack. It's not much of a technical change, but a mental shift and he can tear a page out of Kohli's playbook. After a struggle in 2014, Kohli learned how to negate the late swing of Anderson and Broad in 2018, and he made 593 runs from five matches at an average of 59. They can also refer to the clippings of Sanjay Bangar and Rahul Dravid negating the pronounced swing at Leeds against Andrew Caddick and Matthew Hoggard in 2002. Dhruv Jurel At 24, Jurel stands a good back-up option behind Rishabh Pant as the second wicket-keeper batter. He was impressive in the debut series against England but could not make much impact against Australia. Jurel has the requisite guts and skill level to be a long-term servant in Test cricket. He showed his prowess both in attack and defence while making two fifties against Australia in an unofficial Test ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year. He is also the kind of cricketer head coach Gautam Gambhir likes, one who never shies away from a fight in the middle. But sustaining it for a longer duration will be his main challenge. B Sai Sudharsan Orthodoxy is his strength. There is a bright chance of him making it to the touring squad to England, and his copybook batting could come handy in England, making him a calm yin to the more aggressive yang of Jaiswal. The 23-year-old Sudharsan prefers to play down the ground on either side with a straight bat, a quality that gives immense chance to succeed in England. The grainy footage of West Indian greats Viv Richards and Desmond Haynes driving England pacers like Ian Botham and John Snow down the ground for boundaries is still available on YouTube, and that could be his reference material. He also has the experience of playing for Surrey in County cricket. Sarfaraz Khan The 27-year-old can pillage an attack like he did against New Zealand in Bengaluru last year with a belligerent 150. But since then, ordinary form and a rib injury have pulled him back. The Mumbai man might also be asked to work on his fitness. There is no doubting the skills of Sarfaraz. But if he can take some cues from Kohli's almost manic chase of fitness to keep his skills sharp, then Sarfaraz can revive his Test fortunes. The Collective Task Now, there is no Kohli or Rohit Sharma to guide them, pep them, cajole them or scold them. So, can the boys survive battles and grow into men all alone? It will determine the brightness of their own and India's cricket's future.
India.com
10-05-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Virat Kohli Set To Retire: Who Will Replace The King In Team Indias Test Team
photoDetails english 2898909 Virat Kohli's potential retirement from Test cricket has sparked a critical search for a long-term No. 4 replacement in India's red-ball setup. With Kohli likely to skip the England Test series, selectors are evaluating promising talents. Dhruv Jurel, known for his composure under pressure, leads the pack. Sarfaraz Khan, a domestic stalwart, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, a technically gifted batter, are strong contenders. Devdutt Padikkal adds a left-handed option, while Shreyas Iyer and Karun Nair bring valuable experience. Rajat Patidar's form also makes him a viable choice. India's Test middle order is entering a transitional phase post-Kohli. Updated:May 10, 2025, 12:50 PM IST Virat Kohli Mulls Test Retirement, BCCI Caught Off Guard 1 / 11 Kohli has reportedly expressed his intention to retire from Test cricket, sending shockwaves through Indian cricket. The 36-year-old legend has been a pillar of India's red-ball success since his debut in 2011. BCCI Urges Kohli to Rethink Retirement Decision 2 / 11 Top BCCI officials have personally requested Kohli to reconsider, citing his elite fitness, unmatched experience, and the crucial upcoming tours to England and Australia where his presence could be decisive. India's Test Line-Up Faces Uncertainty Amid Leadership Exodus 3 / 11 With Rohit Sharma retiring and Kohli possibly following suit, India's Test team could soon be led by a young, relatively inexperienced batting unit in the new WTC cycle starting June 20. Dhruv Jurel: India's Next Big Match Winner? 4 / 11 Jurel has already shown maturity in tough Test situations and averages over 40. With solid technique and calm under pressure, he's India's most promising long-term No. 4 option. Sarfaraz Khan: Domestic Cricket's Run Machine 5 / 11 Sarfaraz has dominated India's first-class scene and earned a Test debut. Despite concerns over his technique in seaming conditions, his hunger for runs makes him a strong candidate. Nitish Kumar Reddy: A Solid Middle-Order Anchor 6 / 11 Reddy's recent performances in Australia underline his ability to adapt under pressure. With a century already under his belt, his sound game against pace makes him a dependable No. 4. Devdutt Padikkal: A Stylish Left-Hand Option 7 / 11 Padikkal's improved pace game and clean technique make him a left-handed option worth trying in the middle order. His recent IPL 2025 form adds weight to his case. Shreyas Iyer: The Experienced Contender 8 / 11 Iyer, with 811 Test runs and a century on debut, brings experience and composure. He's familiar with English conditions and has proven he can handle pressure situations at No. 4. Karun Nair: The Forgotten Triple-Centurion 9 / 11 A triple century in Test cricket is no small feat. Though out of favor, Nair's experience and hunger for a comeback could make him an ideal short-term replacement for Kohli. Rajat Patidar: Explosive Yet Reliable 10 / 11 Patidar has impressed with his temperament and clean stroke play across formats. His recent red-ball form makes him a candidate for India's future middle order in Test cricket. 11 / 11
