KL Rahul has spoken about how strange it feels not to have Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the team for the upcoming Test series against England. He said it’s the first time he’s entered the Indian dressing room without either of them.
India will play the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, on Friday, June 20, marking the start of a new World Test Championship cycle under captain Shubman Gill. The team faces a big challenge replacing Rohit and Virat.
A New Era Begins Without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
KL Rahul shared that this will be his first Test match without either Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma in the dressing room. He called them the backbone of Indian cricket over the last ten years and said that one or both have always been part of the squad throughout his career.
“Virat and Rohit have been the pillars of Indian cricket for the last decade or so, and not having them around will be a huge miss,” Rahul said while speaking to Delhi Capitals, as quoted by Sportstak.
“In my whole career so far, I have never walked into a team where there is no Virat or Rohit. In the 50-odd Test matches that I have played, either Virat or Rohit or both of them have been there,” he added.
KL Rahul said it feels strange to enter the dressing room without the two senior players. He added that he respects their decision, as they’ve given everything for the country and will always be seen as legends of Indian cricket.
“To walk into that dressing room feels a bit strange. But of course, you have to respect their decision. They have given absolutely everything for the country and they will remain legends of Indian cricket. But it’s time for the rest of us to step up,” Rahul told Delhi Capitals.
Young Blood to Lead the Charge in WTC Cycle
The Karnataka batter said he started getting ready for the England Test series after IPL 2025 ended. Rahul mentioned he spoke with his coach to prepare for the tour, knowing how tough it is to play against England in their home conditions.
“I started with my preparations for the England series right after the IPL. I spoke to my coach as well to get prepared for this assignment. It’s always a challenge coming to England as they are a pretty good side, especially when they play at home. It’s going to be a challenge for all of us as we are a comparatively young team,” the 33-year-old said.
Rahul is likely to open the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the new World Test Championship cycle. He also opened with Jaiswal during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In that series, Rahul scored 276 runs in 10 innings, with an average of 30.67, including two half-centuries.
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