All posts tagged: India tour of England

‘I saw him play on a seaming pitch and he didn’t do well’: Ex-TN coach says Sai Sudharsan’s technique not equipped for England Tests | Cricket News

‘I saw him play on a seaming pitch and he didn’t do well’: Ex-TN coach says Sai Sudharsan’s technique not equipped for England Tests | Cricket News

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Tamil Nadu’s rising star Sai Sudharsan made the cut for India’s 18-member Test squad on Saturday, with his maiden call-up into the red-ball side coming ahead of a daunting five-match tour to England. The left-hander’s batting technique has received several plaudits in the IPL 2025 season, where he has seemingly raised the bar in his white-ball repertoire. However, Sudharsan’s existing batting techniques would not be enough to withstand the challenges of the Dukes ball in England, feels former Tamil Nadu coach Sulakshan Kulkarni. Kulkarni, who worked with Sudharsan during the 2023-24 season when he was in charge of the TN team, picked up on his underwhelming First-Class record and said the youngster needs to reinforce his technique to counter the moving ball. Story continues below this ad “His domestic record is not great. When I was the coach, I saw him play on a seaming track in at least two matches. And he didn’t play well there. His technique against the moving ball needs to improve,” Kulkarni was quoted as saying by Times of India. …

‘Comeback Season’: The Whatsapp group that brought Karun Nair back from the brink | Cricket News

‘Comeback Season’: The Whatsapp group that brought Karun Nair back from the brink | Cricket News

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“’I don’t know what to do, sir. Let’s please discuss and do something…’” Coach Vijayakumar Madyalkar vividly remembers the sombre evening when his former Karnataka U-25 ward had checked into his academy with a desperate plea to revive his career. India’s second Test triple-centurion, Karun Nair, suddenly had nowhere to go after Karnataka – his domestic abode throughout his formative years – had landed a stunning snub after the 2022 season in June. An emotional tweet in the winter of 2022 wouldn’t have been enough to tether the widening gulf between him and ‘Dear Cricket.’ Picking himself up, one watchful step at a time, Nair plotted his deeply personal attempt to fight back from the wilderness with Madyalkar and a WhatsApp group. Story continues below this ad On Saturday, the purpose of Nair’s ‘Comeback Season’ group with his trainer, Sai Prasanna and his assistant was fulfilled after two whole years of sweat, tears and a grind in silence. An improbable Test return, a first in seven years, was made possible over the course of an …

India squad for England tour: Shubman Gill new Test captain as BCCI names 16-member side; Mohammed Shami dropped | Cricket News

India squad for England tour: Shubman Gill new Test captain as BCCI names 16-member side; Mohammed Shami dropped | Cricket News

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced India’s Test squad for the forthcoming tour to England, with Shubman Gill named as the new captain for the five-match series starting June 20. Gill takes over from Rohit Sharma, who announced his Test retirement after the national selectors opted to overlook him for the tour after his poor Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 tour to Australia. Enduring a horror patch with the bat, Rohit opted out of the New Year’s Test, with Jasprit Bumrah taking over the reins. India Test squad live updates The 25-year-old Gill will become India’s fourth youngest men’s Test captain, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Ravi Shastri and the 37th man overall to lead the country in whites. Story continues below this ad Having missed the cut for the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship final, the India-England series will mark the beginning of the fourth cycle of the WTC. India will be aiming for their Test series triumph in England in 18 years since Rahul Dravid’s men clinched a …

Ben Stokes quits alcohol to stay fit with India series and Ashes in sight | Cricket News

Ben Stokes quits alcohol to stay fit with India series and Ashes in sight | Cricket News

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Ben Stokes has trodden down the fitness path to stay in top shape for the India series and Ashes, starting with setting aside booze. According to The Telegraph, Stokes ‘quit alcohol’ to be ‘fully fit for England this summer after realising a big night out may have played a part in past injuries’. The all-rounder underwent a hamstring surgery last December. The injury, which he had suffered before as well during The Hundred in August, forced him to miss the Tests against Sri Lanka and was not fully fit for the Pakistan series later. The injury reoccurred during the Test against New Zealand in Hamilton. England’s home season starts with a one-off Test against Zimbabwe followed by a gruelling five-Test series against India. It culminates with the Ashes six months later. Story continues below this ad The Telegraph quoted Stokes as saying that he has not had a drink since January 2, ‘when he threw himself into rehabilitation from his operation’. According to the English daily, Stokes told the Untapped podcast: “After my first major …

‘Ravindra Jadeja can be India’s Test captain for next 2 years,’ says R Ashwin | Cricket News

‘Ravindra Jadeja can be India’s Test captain for next 2 years,’ says R Ashwin | Cricket News

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With a leadership vacuum thrown up after the high-profile retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the Indian Test set-up is poised to make a major leap of faith in choosing their next leader. Reports have suggested that Shubman Gill could take over Sharma as Test captain before the highly anticipated five-match Test tour to England next month. Gill, designated India’s vice-captain in the long format last year, hasn’t quite nailed down a spot in whites yet, averaging 35 in 32 Tests. However, Gill is set to pip Jasprit Bumrah, whose injury-prone status could go against his elevation to permanent captaincy. Story continues below this ad Former India all-rounder R Ashwin, who retired during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, has backed his long-time spin partner Ravindra Jadeja to take over captaincy as a stop-gap option in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship cycle. “Let’s not forget, Jadeja is the most experienced player in the team. He should be in the conversation. If you’re willing to train a new guy for two years and then make …

Virat Kohli announces Test retirement: Read Indian cricket star’s full statement | Cricket News

Virat Kohli announces Test retirement: Read Indian cricket star’s full statement | Cricket News

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Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement in an Instagram post with immediate effect on Monday, ahead of the national side’s scheduled five-match tour to England in June. The Indian cricket stalwart follows in the footsteps of Rohit Sharma in calling time on his career in the longest format of the game. After his decision to call time on his Test career, Kohli will arguably go down as one of India’s finest batters in the longest format of the game. Kohli scored 9230 runs in 210 innings, Kohli stands fourth on the all-time charts among Indian batters, only behind the legendary trio of Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Rahul Dravid (13,265), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122) with 9230 runs at a 46.85 average. Story continues below this ad Scroll down to read what Kohli wrote in his Instagram post. Virat Kohli’s full statement It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll …

‘Test cricket needs Virat’: Brian Lara says Kohli will be persuaded to not retire before England tour | Cricket News

‘Test cricket needs Virat’: Brian Lara says Kohli will be persuaded to not retire before England tour | Cricket News

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West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has come out to urge India veteran Virat Kohli not to give up on Test cricket just yet after the 36-year-old recently told the selectors that he wanted to retire from the longest format ahead of India’s highly anticipated five-match tour to England. On Saturday, the Indian Express reported that Kohli wished to retire from Test cricket with immediate effect, but the BCCI’s top brass had urged him to reconsider his decision. Kohli’s decision was revealed closely on the back of Test captain Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format after the national selectors told him that they were moving on from him after his poor returns in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Story continues below this ad Despite starting the series with a century in Perth in November 2024, Kohli also returned poor series overalls, tallying only 193 runs in nine innings at a 23.5 average. Of the eight innings where he was dismissed on tour, seven of Kohli’s dismissals were adjudged caught-behind. However, in a social media post, …

EXPRESS EXCLUSIVE: Selectors to remove Rohit Sharma from Test captaincy | Cricket News

EXPRESS EXCLUSIVE: Selectors to remove Rohit Sharma from Test captaincy | Cricket News

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The national selectors have decided to remove Rohit Sharma as captain of India’s Test team, and go with a new leader for the tour of England that starts next month. It remains to be seen if Rohit travels to England as a specialist opening batsman. The Indian Express learns that the Indian cricket board will back the selectors’ decision. It’s a move not driven by a need for transition or to cull out aging players, but understood to be based on Rohit’s performances and his form in red-ball cricket. It is learnt that the 38-year-old will continue to be in India’s ODI plans. This newspaper had reported in March how the board was keen on Rohit to lead on the England tour after his success in the ICC Champions Trophy. Rohit, too, on a recent appearance on former Australian captain Michael Clarke’s podcast, ‘Beyond 23’, had talked about his excitement in leading an attack with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj in England. The selectors had a series of discussions last month over Rohit’s future in the Indian …

‘Top of the list for me from outsiders’: Ravi Shastri urges India to pick Sai Sudharsan for England Test tour | Cricket News

‘Top of the list for me from outsiders’: Ravi Shastri urges India to pick Sai Sudharsan for England Test tour | Cricket News

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With a momentous five-match Test tour to England coming closely on the heels of the IPL 2025 season, former India head coach Ravi Shastri opened up on a couple of left-field choices that he feels must make the cut for the Test squad that is vying for a first series triumph in England in 18 years. Shastri batted for the inclusion of Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan who has struck a purple patch in the ongoing IPL season. The left-hander has emerged in the running for the Orange Cap race, amassing over 450 runs in nine outings. Building a formidable partnership up top with Shubman Gill, Sudharsan has struck five fifties to help the Titans maintain their spot in the top four with only two weeks of action left in the league stage. Touting Sudharsan as an all-format India prospect, Shastri leaned in on the southpaw’s County experiences as well to make a case for the 23-year-old’s inclusion. Story continues below this ad “I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the …

‘Can’t hide when facing India in five Tests’: Joe Root on England’s upcoming home series | Cricket News

‘Can’t hide when facing India in five Tests’: Joe Root on England’s upcoming home series | Cricket News

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Former England captain Joe Root has batted for consistency to counter India in the upcoming five-Test series, starting in June, affirming that “there’s no hiding place” when it comes to facing such an indomitable opponent. After missing out on a World Test Championship final ticket in the 2023-25 cycle with their Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat earlier this year, India will commence the 2025-27 edition of the WTC in England, the first Test slated to begin in Headingley on June 20. The 34-year-old Root, who is on the cusp of scaling up to the second spot among Test cricket’s highest run-getters this year, is gearing up for the gruelling challenge after a fine Champions Trophy series as a batter. Story continues below this ad “We are good in our own conditions but with India coming over for a five-match series there’s no hiding place. It’s a long old slog, you’ve got to be consistent. You’ve got to put in those match-winning performances time and time again,” Root told Sky Sports. Root has led England to the most …