The Indian Test team is without the services of former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on England tour. Rahul said that he respects the senior duo's decision to retire from the format but he has never walked into an Indian team where there is none of them. He also sees it as an opportunity for the youngsters to step up.
“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. In my whole career so far, I have never walked into a team where there is no Virat or Rohit. The 50-odd Test matches that I have played, either Virat or Rohit or both of them have been there. 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 (DC) after Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
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Rahul is highly likely to open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal as India play England on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. The Karnataka batter revealed he started practicing for the England tour right after the conclusion of the IPL 2025.
“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 on Nair's comeback and old state cricket days
While India have not confirmed Kaun Nair for the no.3 spot, Rahul is happy with his DC teammate's return to the Test squad after a long hiatus. He recalled the early days when he played for the state team alongside Nair. He lauded him for playing County cricket to gain experience. Now, Rahul aims to play alongside Nair for the Indian team for a long time.
"We started playing cricket as 11-year-old boys together and we have been on this journey ever since. Both of us have had our ups and downs. He got his opportunity, scored a triple hundred, faced a bit of tough time after that for a lot of reasons. But what has stood out is the way he has performed in the last 2-3 years,” Rahul said to our media team post the IPL 2025 season," the veteran batter said.
“It’s been great to see how he has gone back to basics. We have spoken about his time in the UK and him having played County cricket, and the difficulties and the challenges that he faced. To have that drive to make a comeback to the Indian team despite all the hardships is commendable. I hope both of us can play for a very long time for the Indian team,” he added.
Rahul's Test numbers in England
Rahul has played nine Tests on England soil. From 18 innings, he has scored 614 runs at an average of 34.11. He has two centuries and one fifty in England.