Time for one of the biggest Test series—India is set to take on England, and yes, in whites!
India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant has admitted he feels a sense of relief heading into the upcoming Test series against England—thanks to the absence of legendary pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. The iconic duo, now retired from Test cricket, shared a combined tally of 1,308 wickets, with 223 of those coming against India alone.
“Definitely, it feels so good when both (Anderson and Broad) are not there,” Pant said at a pre-match press conference. “Coming from the last two tours, they've been there for England for so many years and I've only come for two tours.” Pant acknowledged that their absence slightly eases the pressure on India’s batting lineup, especially in English conditions known for favoring seam and swing bowling.
However, the 26-year-old was quick to note that England’s current attack—featuring the likes of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir—still poses a serious threat. “We don't want to take anyone lightly because our team is also young. They're still looking to develop themselves. But at the same time, we've got to play our cricket and respect the bowlers and opposition where it needs it,” he said.
With senior stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli having stepped away from the Test setup, India enters this series in a phase of transition. Pant, now a key leader in the side, will have added responsibility not only behind the stumps but also in guiding the team strategically and mentally through the challenges of a high-stakes series.
As India looks to build momentum in the new World Test Championship cycle, Pant’s leadership and composure could prove pivotal against a rejuvenated English side.
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana.