England Series – News Analysis India

Mohammed Shami’s Test Future Uncertain: Why He Missed the England Series

News Analysis India — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Speculation arose regarding Mohammed Shami’s potential return to India’s Test squad for the England series after he was seen training with a unique ball at Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, his name was not included in India’s squad for the England tour. Shami last represented India in Tests during the 2023 World Test Championship Final against Australia. Despite participating in domestic cricket, he couldn’t convince the selectors about his fitness, leading to his exclusion from the Australia tour. The BCCI official revealed that the Ajit Agarkar-led panel considered Shami’s experience valuable, particularly with Jasprit Bumrah only playing three Tests. However, Shami expressed reservations about his readiness, prompting the selectors to proceed cautiously. The official stated that fitness issues were the sole reason for his absence. It was also mentioned that the selectors had consulted him before finalizing the squad, but they did not receive the necessary assurance from him. Mohammed Shami is expected to participate in the Duleep Trophy 2025, starting August 28, where East Zone will face North Zone in the quarter-finals at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Karun Nair’s Second Chance Ends After 8 Years

News Analysis India — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Batsman Karun Nair made a return to the Indian team after an eight-year gap. He was given an opportunity in the five-match Test series against England, but he failed to capitalize on it. In the series against England, he managed only one half-century, despite high expectations from the Indian team. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed disappointment regarding his performance. Furthermore, he made a significant comment about Karun Nair’s Test career.

Shubman Gill to Bat at No. 4: A Strategic Shift Questioned

News Analysis India — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Shubman Gill, the rising star of Indian cricket, is set to make a significant change in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. He’s not only taking on the captaincy but also positioning himself at the crucial No. 4 batting spot. This move has raised eyebrows among analysts and fans alike. The series opener is scheduled to take place at Headingley, Leeds.

Former cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra weighed in on this unusual decision. He highlighted the rarity of a player, especially an opener, voluntarily moving down the batting order in Test cricket. Gill’s career has primarily seen him in the opening slot or at No. 3 in his 32 Test appearances.

With Virat Kohli’s retirement leaving a void at No. 4, Gill has chosen to step up. Chopra, speaking on his YouTube channel, emphasized how uncommon it is for a batsman to make such a positional change in red-ball cricket. He noted Gill’s unique journey, going from opener to the No. 4 position, a shift rarely seen.

Chopra observed that in Indian cricket, players often move up the order over time. He cited Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli as examples of players who started lower down and later became No. 4 batsmen. In contrast, batsmen like Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma remained at the opening position throughout their Test careers.

Chopra added that while players generally advance in the batting order, transitioning from opener to the middle order is a rare phenomenon. He couldn’t recall many instances of this happening, at least not in the Indian team in recent years.