- Any keen followers of cricket would have noticed how the transition of a team happens most organically from time to time. Some of the most dreaded and fearsome teams have undergone this transition over a period. Look at how the Australian team of yore, the most domineering West Indies teams of the 1980s and 90s, again Aussies of 2000 and 2010s, and other teams who not only provided wholesome entertainment to the cricket lovers and aficionados but also enriched the sport itself by their brand of play. In the meantime, a bevy of world-class cricketers came into the fore through memorable and outstanding performances with great consistency. As they say, time is the best leveler and stops for none; cricket teams, too, must move forward. And they have.
PC: India Today
- Team India finds itself at the cusp of yet another transition with the retirement of a few of the renowned performers like R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, who have served the team with great distinction for an extended period. The captaincy of the Test team has been awarded to talented Shubhman Gill, who promises to be the next big thing to have happened to Indian cricket. Even though his returns in Tests are not staggering, it’s still early days for the youngster to not only cement his place in the team but also establish his authority in leading as well. His first test as a captain and player would be against England in the ensuing five-match Test series to be played in England. Team India has already reached the shores of England.
PC: Sports Tak
- The moot point to ponder over here is whether the promising team is adequately equipped to take on the might of the England team under challenging conditions that test even the most competent and established cricketers. The balance of the team is always crucial, and it is here that the absence of some of the marquee cricketers would be sorely felt. Except for the presence of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja, the squad is quite young but promises to compete and best the England team in its own den. The team is loaded with promising youngsters who are yet to prove on a big stage like the five Tests. Most importantly, will the young cricketers brought up on a diet of T20 slam bang variety be up to the task in grueling Tests?
PC: Sporting News
Most intriguingly, batters like Yashaswi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharshan, and reinvented Karun Nair will be keenly observed to deliver consistently while soaking in the rigours of Test cricket. Hopefully, they will be able to pull their weight to make good this opportunity to further cement their places in the Test team. Undoubtedly, bowlers win the matches. Here, India is well served with the availability of the indomitable Jasprit Bumrah – albeit for three Tests as confirmed by Head Coach Gautam Gambhir – alongside Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep ably supplemented by spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur and batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy must raise their games. Let the contest begin.
