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Mint
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Mint
‘What has Abhimanyu Easwaran done wrong?': Fans ask after Sai Sudharsan makes India debut during IND vs ENG 1st Test
Abhimanyu Easwaran's much-anticipated Test debut got extended after the Bengal batter was once again overlooked as India handed Sai Sudharsan his maiden cap on Friday against England in the first Test at Headingly in Leeds. The Tamil Nadu batter was handed his maiden Test cap by veteran Cheteshwar Pujara. The 29-year-old Bengal batter, who has been a prolific run-getter in domestic circuit, has bene travelling with the Indian team since 2022, but is yet to make his place in the starting XI. The right-hander was in terrific form last season as he piled up runs in the Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy and the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, which included a double hundred and five centuries. Despite that, Easwaran's omission left the fans amazed. 'What has Abhimanyu Easwaran done wrong? So conveniently he gets overlooked for an inexperienced Sai Sudharsan. Think IPL form > domestic performance?' wrote one user on X. 'No disrespect to Sai Sudharshan, he is a good batsman but Abhimanyu Easwaran deserved a debut. How long will you keep him in the touring party and not hand him a Test cap? Abhimanyu is far more experienced,' another user pisted. Having been made the captain of the India A side against England Lions, Easwaran had a good outing in both the unofficial Tests. While he scored a 68 in the first game while opening the batting, Easwaran scored 80 in the second game after being dropped to no.3 spot. On the other hand, Sudharsan's Test debut comes after his Orange Cap finish in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League. India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
'What was Rohit Sharma? He struggled when he played Test cricket': Shubman Gill's fresh challenge ahead of England Tests
Immense pressure is expected to be on Shubman Gill, when he leads his team out to face opposition skipper Ben Stokes at toss in the first Test at Headingley on Friday. The upcoming five-match Test series in England will see Gill make his captaincy debut, having taken over from Rohit Sharma, who recently announced his retirement. There have been question marks surrounding the 25-year-old's Test captaincy appointment, with many feeling that it was more circumstantial, rather than well-planned. His batting average in 32 Tests is 35.05, which is the lowest among top-order batters to have played for India in the past decade. Gill's batting brilliance can never be ignored in other formats, and to a certain extent, even in Test cricket, but many feel that he needed more time to develop before being given the reins of the team. Also Read: BCCI told to hold Vaibhav Suryavanshi's India call-up: 'Sachin Tendulkar hit 100s on Ranji, Duleep, Irani Trophy debut' Speaking to Hindustan Times, former India cricketer and ex-BCCI selector Venkatapathy Raju weighed in on Gill's appointment, saying the load of captaincy wouldn't negatively affect his Test career or development. Comparing the GT captain to Rohit, he said, "Not really, not really. You see, what was Rohit Sharma? Rohit Sharma struggled when he played Test cricket, right? But then, when they gave him captaincy for Mumbai Indians, he won trophies. Then suddenly his style of cricket changed. Then he became Indian captain, right? After he became Indian captain, he did well." During his Test career, which spanned 67 matches and 116 innings, Rohit averaged 40.57. His start in that format wasn't up to the mark, needing time to settle in. Raju, who was a selector during India's victorous campaign at the 2007 World T20, also went on to compare Gill to South African legend Graeme Smith, who was appointed skipper at a very early age. "So Gill has been part of this Indian team in all formats, right? And then probably, you know, I want to see the example of Graeme Smith. When Graeme Smith was very young for South Africa. He was just 19 when he was made the captain. He made a lot of difference," he said. "So now the selectors have decided to give the chance to Gill. It's up to the senior members in the team, all the players in the team to support him, right? Because it is a team game. It might change his style also. He might be more responsible. Initially, he might look little nervous, but then that's what cricket is all about. It is a challenge. He has to accept the challenge. He has got five Test matches, hopefully he learns quickly in those games and plays the way he knows," he further added. In SENA nations, Gill has yet to register a century, averaging 25.70. Meanwhile, in the three Tests he has played in England, Gill has only managed scores of 28, 15, 1, 0, 17 and 4. The spotlight will be on him when India face England in the first Test. A defeat could just increase the pressure, whereas a win in the first Test could see a strong start for India's new generation of cricketers.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Vaibhav Suryavanshi gains 'lot of weight' after IPL success, told to 'reduce it' as Rahul Dravid promises India call-up
Every time a young, promising star breaks out during the IPL, franchises, the BCCI and its chairman of selectors are forced to take notice. But this Vaibhav Suryavanshi kid is a different kettle of fish. All of 14, Suryavanshi, the teen prodigy, is already being earmarked as the next big thing in Indian cricket. Of course, he has a long way to go to realise his dream. He has to prove his mettle at Under-16, Under-19, India A before even wishing to break into the senior Indian team. Suryavanshi has aced his start, though. After getting picked by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 mega-auction, Suryavanshi got his IPL career off to a breathtaking start, smashing the first ball he faced for a six and creating history in the next game. Against the Gujarat Titans, Suryavanshi bludgeoned 101 off just 36 balls, en route to becoming the youngest IPL centurion of all time. His stakes have since risen exponentially, with Suryavanshi becoming the toast of not just the nation, but his popularity transcended borders. Before his departure for the UK, Suryavanshi met the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who had nothing but encouraging words to say about the 14-year-old. Also Read: Vaibhav Suryavanshi row sparks crackdown as BCCI rolls out new rule to catch over-age players From Australia to England, cricketers know of Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Even as he continues to train for the India Under-19 team in the UK, former England captain Jos Buttler couldn't help but recall the youngster's blitzkrieg against GT in April. Suryavanshi recently smoked 190 off just 90 balls, clearly indicative that he's still in his IPL zone. Having said that, the teenager has put on a bit of weight since his success in the IPL. When asked if the boy still fancies some of Bihar's famous dish 'Litti Chokha', his father, Sanjeev, said no, but hoped his son had lost some weight. Also Read: BCCI told to hold Vaibhav Suryavanshi's India call-up - 'Sachin Tendulkar hit 100s on Ranji, Duleep, Irani Trophy debut' "No, he doesn't eat anymore. Now he takes a very balanced diet. He goes to the gym. He had gained a lot of weight; he has to reduce it; lose weight," Suryavanshi senior told The Dainik Jagran. Suryavanshi's parting shot from the IPL was with his RR coach Rahul Dravid. The former India captain, who was on crutches when Suryavanshi completed his century, jumped out of his wheelchair; such was the delight on the Wall's face. The two spoke about Vaibhav and his journey, the video ending with Dravid reminding Suryavanshi that this is just the start, and the real test awaits next year, when bowlers and opposition will have figured out his game. As it turns out, that wasn't it. Sanjeev revealed that in his interaction with Dravid, the legend assured him not to worry, promising that he and the decision-makers at the franchise would mould, shape, and discipline his son with the idea of making him play for India. "Rahul Sir had said that your work is over now. Now he is our responsibility. We will take care of him. Now he has become a part of our family. Just ensure that he stays away from mobile and internet media. We will make him a player who can play for the country," the father said.
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First Post
06-06-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Rohit Sharma reveals how his father reacted to sudden Test retirement: 'He was a little disappointed…'
Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on 7 May, more than a month before the five-match Test series in England was to get underway. And at an event in Mumbai, the 'Hitman' revealed that his father, like many of his fans, was left disappointed by his decision. read more India skipper Rohit Sharma's last Test appearance was against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December. AP Modern-day batting great Rohit Sharma has finally spoken on Test cricket since retiring from the format last month, revealing that his father Gurunath wasn't too happy with his decision. The 'Hitman' added that his father has been a long-time admirer of the five-day format rather than 'new-age' cricket. Rohit had quit Test cricket on 7 May, days before fellow batting great and former captain Virat Kohli made a similar announcement, with the two bringing the curtains down on their Test careers a little over a month before the five-match Test series in England. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'My father worked in a transport company. Like I said, what my mom did, my father was very much involved in sacrificing things so that we could have our life. But my father always, since day one, has been a fan of Test cricket,' Rohit said at the launch of the book The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife, written by long-time teammate Cheteshwar Pujara's wife Puja, in Mumbai. 'He doesn't like this new-age cricket. I still remember that day I scored 264 in the ODI. He was like, okay, well played. Well done. There was no excitement from him. It's important to go out there and all that. 'But even if I used to get good 30s or 40s or 50s or 60s, in Test cricket used to talk to me about it in detail. So that's the kind of love he had for the game. And he's obviously seen you go up the ranks,' the 'Hitman' added. Rohit had endured a poor run as batter as well as captain in India's last two Test assignments, against New Zealand and Australia at home and away respectively, which had put a question mark on his red-ball future with the Indian team. He ultimately signed off from Test cricket with 4,301 runs in 67 appearances, collecting 12 centuries and 18 fifties along the way besides collecting 12 runs in 24 matches as captain. 'He has played a huge role in wherever I am today' Rohit added that his father had witnessed his entire journey as a cricketer starting from his days as a school kid. 'You play in school cricket. Then you play U19, the Ranji Trophy, the Duleep Trophy, the Irani Trophy, and India A. And I've done all of that. So he has seen my journey through that. And through this, I've made it to the Indian team. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'My father has seen me playing a lot of cricket with red ball, obviously. So he appreciates red-ball cricket a lot. And then, obviously, he was a little disappointed when I announced my retirement. But was happy as well at the same time. But, yeah, that's my father. And he has obviously played a huge role in wherever I am today. Without their help, it never would have been possible,' Rohit added. Both Rohit and Kohli had retired from Twenty20 Internationals last year after helping India win the T20 World Cup, and will now be focusing on One-Day Internationals after bidding Test cricket goodbye, with their sights being set on the 2027 ICC World Cup.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'He was...': Rohit Sharma reveals father's reaction on Test retirement; recollects his words after he scored 264 runs
Mumbai: Cricketer Rohit Sharma addresses the gathering during the inauguration of a stand after him at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil) Former India Test and T20I captain Rohit Sharma has revealed his father's reaction after he announced his retirement from Test cricket. "He appreciates red-ball cricket a lot and, obviously, was a little disappointed when I announced my retirement, but was happy as well at the same time," Rohit said at the launch of Pujara's wife Puja's book 'The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife' in Mumbai on Thursday. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Rohit recalled the struggles made by their parents to support their careers. 'Since the day I was born to now, the support of my mother and father has been immense. I know the sacrifices they've made for me and my brother to do what we needed to do in our lives. 'But when you sit back and think about it, you really appreciate what parents go through. When you're at that age, you don't realize, but now, when I sit back and think about it, you understand,' he said. Rohit further explained how his father was involved in his cricket and his obsession with Test cricket. "He worked in a transport company. My father was very much involved in sacrificing things so that, you know, we can have our life," said Rohit. "My father always, since day one, has been a fan of Test cricket; he doesn't like this new-age cricket. "I still remember the day I scored 264 in an ODI, he was like, 'Okay, well played, well done.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo There was no such excitement from him that it was a world record and all of that. Explained: Why Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket "But even if I used to get good 30s or 40s or 50s or 60s in Test cricket, he used to talk to me about it in detail. So that's the kind of love he had for the game. "He has obviously seen me go up the ranks. You play age-group cricket, then you pass on to U-19, and then you go to Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy, India A, and I've done all of that. So he has seen my journey through that. "I have made it to the Indian team, playing red-ball cricket, not so much white-ball cricket, but that's how the team used to get picked. "Back in the day, you do well in red-ball cricket and you find yourself first in ODI cricket and then into Test cricket. Now it's a different story. So my father has seen me playing a lot of cricket with the red ball, obviously. "That's my father, and he has obviously played a huge role in wherever I am today, you know, without their help," he said.
