With Virat Kohli's Test retirement, Team India faces the daunting task of filling the crucial number 4 batting position. Michael Atherton expresses concern about finding a suitable replacement after decades of dominance by Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. While names like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are being thrown in the air, who will be India's pick for the England tour?
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Joe Root etched his name in cricket history during the ongoing Test against Zimbabwe, becoming the fastest to reach 13,000 Test runs in his 153rd match, surpassing Jacques Kallis' record. While Root leads in matches taken, he's the slowest in terms of innings. He stands as the first English and fifth overall player to achieve this milestone.
Brad Haddin emphasises Virat Kohli's significant impact on Test cricket, highlighting his competitive spirit and passion during high-stakes matches against top teams like Australia. Haddin believes Kohli's absence will be deeply felt in the Test format, considering it his most influential arena. He also praises Shreyas Iyer's leadership qualities and his strong rapport with coach Ricky Ponting.
Astrologer Greenstone Lobo attributes recent retirements in Indian cricket to cosmic shifts. He says the planetary alignment that fueled the greatness of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin has weakened. Lobo suggests KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are astrologically primed to take over. He also mentions Rajat Patidar as a potential surprise package.
Amidst speculation over India's next Test captain, Wasim Jaffer suggests Shubman Gill should lead during the England tour whenever Jasprit Bumrah rests. Jaffer advocates for Bumrah as the primary choice, with Gill as vice-captain to gain experience. Bumrah's fitness concerns and past injuries make him an uncertain choice for all five Tests.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has signed New Zealand's Tim Seifert for Rs 2 Crore as a replacement for Jacob Bethell, who is departing for England national duties after the SRH match. Seifert, an explosive wicketkeeper batter with prior IPL experience with KKR and DC, has played 66 T20Is, scoring 1540 runs.
Ben Stokes acknowledges India's formidable batting depth despite the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of the five-Test series. Stokes highlighted Kohli's fighting spirit and competitiveness, noting his signature cover drive. He anticipates a challenging summer and expresses excitement about his return from injury, emphasizing the hard work put into his recovery.
MS Dhoni's fans can rejoice as sources suggest he may not retire after the current season. Despite CSK's struggles and external doubts, Dhoni hasn't indicated this is his last year. Insiders believe his presence is vital to guide the young core and restore the team's championship caliber.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, eyeing a top-two IPL finish for the first time since 2016, will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow. RCB, currently second, aims to capitalize on Virat Kohli's form and contributions from Patidar and Shepherd. SRH, positioned eighth, seeks a strong end to their season, relying on their aggressive batting lineup.
Mumbai's Ayush Mhatre, 17, will captain the India Under-19 team for their England tour, joined by Bihar's 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Both impressed in their IPL debuts. Abhigyan Kundu from Mumbai is the vice-captain. Mhatre's leadership skills have been praised, drawing comparisons to Prithvi Shaw. The tour includes One-Day matches and Multi-Day games against England Under-19, starting June 24.
Mumbai Indians secured their IPL playoff spot with a dominant 59-run victory over Delhi Capitals, eliminating DC from the competition. Suryakumar Yadav's explosive 73 propelled MI to 180/5, while Delhi collapsed to 121 all out. A post-match interaction between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul went viral. KL Rahul has scored 504 runs from 12 matches at an impressive average of 56, including a century and three fifties.