KL Rahul Reflects on Kohli and Rohit's Absence Ahead of India-England Test Series
KL Rahul Prepares for England Test Series
Leeds, June 19: As Team India gears up to face England in a highly anticipated five-match Test series starting Friday, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul expressed that the absence of legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be felt. However, he sees this as a chance for younger players to step up.
Both Kohli and Rohit announced their retirements from Test cricket in May, creating a significant gap in the team, particularly in the opening and number four batting positions. Kohli, aged 36, accumulated 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, ranking fourth on India's all-time run-scorers list.
Rahul remarked, "Virat and Rohit have been the cornerstones of Indian cricket for over a decade, and their absence will be a considerable loss. Throughout my career, I have always played alongside either Virat or Rohit, so entering the dressing room without them feels unusual. However, we must respect their choices.
"They have dedicated everything to the nation and will forever be regarded as legends in Indian cricket. Now, it’s our turn to rise to the occasion,” he stated during an interaction with the Delhi Capitals media team.
Rahul also supported his teammate Karun Nair, who is returning to the Indian squad after an eight-year hiatus, praising his recent performances.
Nair has shown exceptional form, scoring a double century against the England Lions in the first unofficial Test at Canterbury. In the recently concluded IPL 2025 season, he participated in eight matches for Delhi Capitals, accumulating 198 runs, including a half-century.
Having made his Test debut against England in Mohali in 2016, Nair famously scored an unbeaten 303 in his third Test in Chennai. However, after that remarkable innings, he played only three home Tests against Australia in 2017 before being dropped due to a series of poor performances.
Rahul, who had an impressive IPL season with the bat for Delhi Capitals, reminisced about their journey together since they were 11 years old.
"We began our cricketing journey as 11-year-olds and have been on this path together ever since. Both of us have experienced highs and lows. He had his chance, scored a triple hundred, but faced challenges afterward for various reasons. What stands out is his performance over the last 2-3 years,” Rahul shared.
“It’s inspiring to see how he has returned to the fundamentals. We’ve discussed his experiences in the UK and the challenges he faced while playing County cricket. His determination to make a comeback to the Indian team despite all the obstacles is admirable. I hope we can both represent India for a long time,” he added.
Regarding his own preparations, Rahul mentioned, “I began my training for the England series immediately after the IPL. I consulted with my coach to ensure I was ready for this challenge. Competing in England is always tough, as they are a formidable side, especially at home. This will be a test for our relatively young team.”
The first Test between India and England is set to take place at Headingley, Leeds, marking the start of the 2025/26 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams.