Jasprit Bumrah concedes 100 runs in a Test innings for the first time after 48 Tests; India struggle to survive
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah recorded the most expensive spell of his Test career during the second innings of the fourth Test match against England in Manchester. Bumrah’s tally for the innings ticked past 100 runs, making it the first instance in 48 Tests where he’s conceded more than 100. The pacer’s previous worst figures were four for 99 against Australia in Melbourne in December 2024. Bumrah made his Test debut in 2018 in South Africa and has picked 219 wickets so far with the red ball. However, Bumrah’s stumbling on the staircase of Old Trafford triggered another major injury scare after Rishav Pant, who already has been ruled out of the pitch for the next six weeks following a severe toe fracture. On the third day of the ongoing Manchester Test, a video went viral rapidly, showing Bumrah stumbling while walking up the stairs during the second session, visibly grimacing as he limped back onto the field at Old Trafford. “It’s a good sign that Bumrah is back on the field, but it’s a bad sign that he went off the field. However, it looks like he is grimacing a little bit. Doesn’t look comfortable; he is reaching down at his left ankle,” former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said while commentating. The tension grew when Mohammed Siraj also appeared to be in discomfort, struggling to complete his 22nd over before limping off for treatment. Siraj, however, returned to the field later in the session, easing some of India’s immediate worries. Meanwhile, on Saturday, England scored 669 runs against India during the fourth Test in Manchester, the highest team total at Old Trafford. India, in reply, are struggling to survive with the loss of two wickets, having scored only three runs in the fourth innings. The visitors need 306 to win the Test. Across its Test history, this was the ninth-highest total conceded by India. Sri Lanka holds the record for the highest team total against India. The side scored 952 for six against India in Colombo in 1997. For England, this was its second-best effort against India, with the best of 710 for seven coming in Birmingham in 2011. The last team to score 600 runs or more against India was New Zealand, which managed 680 runs in Wellington in 2014.
Kohli’s jokes: Coloring beard was an indication to retire from Test!
Virat Kohli jokingly cited one of the reasons behind his decision to say goodbye to Test cricket at a function in London on Tuesday. At an event in London, organized by former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh to raise funds for the YouWeCan Foundation, Kohli was told, while on stage, that everyone misses him on the field. To this, Kohli responded with a smile: “I just colored my beard two days ago. You know it’s time when you are coloring your beard every four days.” However, the former Indian skipper showed gratitude to his biggest ally in the Indian team, former India coach Ravi Shastri. “If I was not working with him, what happened in Test cricket wouldn’t have been possible – the clarity which we had together is very hard to find, it’s everything for cricketers to grow in their careers. If he didn’t back me the way he did, those press conferences where he took the bullets from the front line – things would have been different, and I always have respect and regard for him, for being a massive part of my cricket journey,” Kohli said about Shastri. Kohli was also spotted attending games at Wimbledon with Anushka Sharma. “2015 was our first experience of being at the Centre Court. ” “We always planned to come back, but could not make it happen for various reasons. But now we have a bit of time on our hands. So here we are again,” Kohli said while talking to tennis legend Vijay Amritraj for Star Sports. “I think the experience (in pressure situations) can be similar. But the intimidation factor and the pressure that would replicate for us in a World Cup game, a World Cup match between India and Pakistan, or a semifinal or a final of the World Cup, your legs are shivering because of sheer pressure.”
Yashashvi Jaiswal only 97 runs away from a 49-year-old record
Yashashvi Jaiswal is just 97 runs away from breaking the 49-year-old record by little master, legendary Sunil Gavaskar. Yashasvi needs to score only 97 runs, to become the fastest Indian to score 2000 runs in Tests. In his 20th Test match career Yashashvi has scored 1903 runs with a magnificent average of 52.86. Sunil Gavaskar still holds the record, who reached this milestone in his 23rd Test back in 1976. In this transition phase for Team India, Jaiswal’s form and overall performance in test cricket are a significant positive for the team. He scored an impressive century in the first innings of the opener match of the Anderson- Tendulkar Trophy. Yashashvi Jaiswal scored a century his first century in his debut against West Indies. After that, he proved himself in Australia and now in his first match on the English soil, he again proved why he belongs here. After Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag are in the list who reached the milestone of two thousand Test runs in their 25th Tests, respectively.
Bumrah’s availability for the second Test is still uncertain!
Ace Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the forthcoming second India-England is yet to be ascertained as a report claims that the decision will be taken by Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar, and Shubman Gill. The India head coach earlier confirmed that the fast bowler will not be a part of all five Tests as a part of his workload management. With the first Test ending on 24th June and the 2nd set to begin on 2nd July, India have a seven-day break currently. As per news agency PTI, a BCCI source pointed out there was nearly a week’s gap between the 1st and the 2nd Test. The source informed that the decision on whether Bumrah will play at Edgbaston will be taken by coach Gambhir, chief selector Agarkar, and captain Gill. The source added that the pacer will be assessed a day before the ENG vs IND 2nd Test and then a final call will be taken. “Bumrah has close to a week’s gap between first and second Test. So the decision rests with chief selector Ajit Agarkar, the coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill. They might assess him a day before the Test, and take a final call,” the source stated. India are being very cautious about Bumrah after he picked up a back injury towards the end of the series against Australia. The injury saw him be on the sidelines for nearly four months. Following his comeback, Bumrah confirmed that he will not be playing all five Tests in England, something which was agreed upon by the team management as well. India were once again too dependent on Bumrah in the 1st Test in Leeds. He managed to take his 14th five-wicket haul in the 1st innings but went wicketless in the 2nd despite bowling long spells.
Report says Rohit retired due to pressure from selectors, BCCI didn’t persuade Kohli
Former India cricket team Test captain Rohit Sharma was forced to retire as he was under pressure from the selectors, a Times of India report has revealed. The Hitman took everyone by surprise by abruptly retiring from the longest format of the game last week. In what was another blow to India, Virat Kohli also followed the former’s footsteps and decided to step away from Tests as well. According to TOI report, the selectors weren’t in favor of taking Rohit to England, which prompted him to announce his retirement. The report states that the selectors weren’t sure about his spot in the side after he informed them that he would only play a couple of Tests in the series. Brushing aside reports of the BCCI asking a former cricketer to convince Virat to reconsider his decision, the source claimed that no such move was made by the BCCI. Echoing earlier reports, the source claimed that Kohli’s move to retire abruptly was his decision alone. But despite their retirement from Test, both Rohit and Kohli will now only be active in ODIs. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the duo’s Grade+ contract will continue.
The players who can replace Virat Kohli at number four in Tests
Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket came up just one month before India’s tour to England. The team now face the challenge of replacing Kohli at number four. Here are the contenders for the spot. Sarfaraz Khan Sarfaraz Khan’s prolific run-scoring in domestic cricket earned him a Test debut against England in Rajkot in 2024. The 27-year-old notched up his first Test century later that year against New Zealand. Despite warming the bench during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Sarfaraz remains a strong contender for the number four spot in the long run. KL Rahul India’s perennial crisis man in recent years, KL Rahul has shuffled between the top and middle order based on the team’s needs. With the departure of the team’s best batter, Rahul, known for his compact technique, could now be a natural choice for the number four spot. Shubman Gill Shubman Gill has long been touted as the future of Indian Test batting. At 25, he’s already played 32 Tests since his debut in Australia in 2020. Although he’s mostly batted at the top of the order or number three, Gill’s shot-making ability makes him a strong contender for the number four spot. A move to this position could be the spark needed to elevate his Test career, which has so far shown promise. Sai Sudharsan The only player on this list yet to make his red-ball debut, Sai Sudharsan has been steadily establishing himself as a future all-format star for India. The left-handed batter made his international debut in the ODI format against South Africa in 2023 but has since played just four international matches. However, his strong performances during the India A tour of Australia late last year, along with another standout IPL season, could prompt selectors to hand him a Test cap in the upcoming series against England.
Kohli says goodbye to test cricket finally
After days of speculation, Indian cricket great Virat Kohli has confirmed his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect in an emotional post on Instagram. After India Test captain Rohit Sharma confirmed his retirement from the longest format of the game, reports of Kohli communicating the same intent to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) emerged, sending shockwaves across the cricketing spectrum. It was reported that the board is in talks with Kohli to make him change his mind, but it seems that the outcome was unsuccessful. “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 carry for life. There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever,” he wrote on social media. Virat also said that the decision to call it quits wasn’t an easy one, but it felt ‘right’ to him. “As I step away from this format, it’s not easy – but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude – for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for everyone who made me feel seen along the way.” Kohli played 123 Tests for India, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, with the highest score of 254. Be it home or away, Virat ruled the roost with his bat, making his runs do the talking. However, he will probably have one regret, not reaching the 10,000 run mark in Tests. Kohli’s retirement from the longest format of the game adds to the exodus of Indian veterans. Ravichandran Ashwin (in December) and Rohit Sharma (last week) have already called it quits, and now Virat has become the third one to follow suit. There have been talks over the future of senior pacer Mohammed Shami in the Test team too.
Virat wants to retire from Test cricket also; BCCI reportedly asks him to rethink
Virat has told the BCCI that he wishes to retire from Test cricket ahead of the England Test series, but top officials have asked him to reconsider his decision! According to a report by The Indian Express, Kohli’s decision came just days after Rohit Sharma decided to retire from Test cricket. According to media reports, the selectors will be meeting in a few days to determine the squad for the five-match Test series against England, and if both Virat and Rohit are not available, they will have a huge task at hand. The report further claimed that Kohli has been contemplating retirement since the end of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where his disappointing show earned him a lot of criticism. “He has made up his mind and has informed the board that he is moving on from Test cricket. The BCCI has urged him to rethink as the crucial England tour is coming up. He is yet to revert on the request,” sources told the Indian Express. If Kohli doesn’t change his mind, and with Rohit out of the picture, it will leave India with a largely inexperienced middle-order to join forces with KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, and Rishabh Pant later down the order. Besides, the team will be left without the guiding hands of two veterans who, between them, have led the Test team for nearly 11 years till now. Kohli became India’s Test captain in December 2014, followed by Rohit in February 2022.
Rohit Sharma calls KL Rahul his crisis man!
Rohit Sharma has termed KL Rahul as his crisis man! Rohit says the 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has been an important player for him over the last few years. Rahul was a vital player for Rohit in ODIs during his captaincy as the right-handed batter stepped up in the middle-order and acted as the wicketkeeper during the ODI World Cup in 2023. The Indian captain when asked by India Today about the criticism he faced, Rohit said that whenever the team needed something, Rahul always steps up and raises his hand. The India captain pointed out that the 33-year-old never shies away from responsibility and is ready to bat anywhere and keep wickets if needed. “In the last two-three years, he has been an important player for me. I look at him as a crisis man. Wherever we needed KL to do something, he raised his hand. He has to do the keeping, he will do it. Have to bat anywhere, he will do it,” said Rohit. Rohit said that criticism doesn’t affect him or the players anymore. The Indian captain said that if it did affect someone, then that player would be sitting at home. “I am tired of this. If it affected, then the player would be sitting at home. He would be on his bed thinking I am being criticized, I cannot play with all this is happening with me. The whole world is against me. Being thick-skinned is inbuilt in players.” “I cannot say that it does not affect at all. It may affect some, and it may not affect others. Nothing happens to me. It has been a long time since I have been playing,” said Rohit.
