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Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has cautioned Indian batters heading to England for red-ball tour in the absence of recently retired players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. With Shubman Gill expected to lead India in the five-Test series, Rajasthan Royals' (RR) batting coach has said that it would be a tough tour for two-time World Test Championship (WTC) finalists.
"It's going to be a tough tour. It's not going to be an easy tour because the seniors have retired a lot. So, the young team is leaving. There could be a new captain. So, all these things will add a little bit of pressure," said Rathour in the post-match press conference after RR's comfortable win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 20.
"But also it's an opportunity to showcase your talent and your ability."
Rathour also wants fans to respect the senior players' decision to step away from the format. While Ashwin retired from international cricket during Australia tour, Rohit and Kohli drew curtains on their Test career earlier this month.
"All three of them were phenomenal cricketers who retired. So, I would have loved for them to carry on. But it's, again, a very, very personal decision. I'm close to all three of them.
"So, you know, I would have, as I said, I would have loved to see them play more. But, again, it's a very, very personal decision, I think. And if they've taken this decision, we should respect that," said the 56-year-old who worked closely with the senior trio.
India's five-Test series against Ben Stokes' England will begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. India's Test squad and new captain is set to be annnounced later this week.
RR's England-bound players
Meanwhile, RR's opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and pacer Tushar Deshpande will head to England as they have been selected in India A squad. Jaiswal has been in top form of late. Ahead of his first England Test tour, he has scored 559 runs from 14 innings at an average of 43, including six half-centuries.
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