What Does KL Rahul Think About the Absence of Kohli and Rohit?

Leeds, June 19 (NationPress) As Team India prepares to face England in the eagerly awaited five-match Test series starting this Friday, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul expressed that the absence of two legends, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, will be felt in the dressing room. However, he noted that this also presents an opportunity for younger players to step up.

Both Kohli and Rohit retired from Test cricket in May, leaving a significant gap in the team, particularly at the opening and number four positions. Kohli, aged 36, amassed an impressive 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, ranking fourth on India's all-time run-scorers list.

"Kohli and Rohit have been the cornerstones of Indian cricket for the past decade, and their absence will be a considerable loss. Throughout my career until now, I have never entered a team without either Virat or Rohit present," Rahul stated.

"In the 50-odd Tests I have played, at least one of them has always been part of the squad. Walking into this dressing room feels unusual, but we must respect their choices. They have dedicated themselves completely to the nation and will forever be regarded as legends of Indian cricket. Now, it's time for the rest of us to rise to the occasion," Rahul added in remarks to the Delhi Capitals media team.

Rahul also supported his teammate Karun Nair, who is making a comeback to the Indian team after an eight-year hiatus, praising his recent performances.

Nair has shown remarkable form, scoring a double century against the England Lions in the first unofficial Test at Canterbury. In the recent IPL 2025 season, he participated in eight matches for Delhi Capitals, accumulating 198 runs, including a half-century.

At 33, Nair made his Test debut against England in Mohali in 2016 and famously scored an unbeaten 303 in his third Test in Chennai. However, after such a historic inning, he played only three home Tests against Australia in 2017 before being dropped due to a streak of low scores.

Rahul, who had a stellar IPL season with the Delhi Capitals, reminisced about the days when he and Nair began their cricket journey together at the age of 11. "We have been on this journey together since childhood, experiencing both highs and lows. Karun had his chance, scored a triple hundred, but faced challenges afterward for various reasons. What stands out is his performance over the last two to three years," Rahul remarked.

"It's inspiring to see how he has returned to basics. We have discussed his time in the UK and the challenges he faced playing County cricket. His determination to make a comeback to the Indian team despite obstacles is admirable. I hope both of us can represent the Indian team for a long time," he concluded.

Discussing his own preparations, the wicketkeeper-batter shared, "I began preparing for the England series right after the IPL. I consulted my coach to get ready for this challenge. Coming to England is always tough as they are a formidable side, particularly at home. This will be a challenge for our relatively young team."

The first Test between India and England will take place at Headingley, Leeds, marking the start of the 2025/26 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both countries.