After the rain-rampant in the first test in the ENG vs IND test series, Kohli and Co. made sure that they make history at Lords in the second test. However, to everyone's surprise, the same dominating Indian team at Lords fell numb at Leeds. What looked like a strong batting side for India on paper, failed horribly on the field. England bundled out India for just 78 runs in the first Innings.
While everyone was concerned about how tough batting is on this pitch, English batsmen left everyone in awe. They scored a mammoth first innings total of 432 and put India to bat on day 3. However, after a steady day of Indian batting with Pujara sitting on 91 and Kohli in the 40s fans thought India might hold this match up to a draw. Subsequently, on day 4 India collapsed again losing 7 wickets in 54 minutes.
However, Virat Kohli is sure about the team's approach and has ensured that they will stick with five specialist bowlers and has ruled out the idea of playing an extra batsman.
"If your top six (including keeper) don't do the job there is no guarantee that the extra guy can bail you out. You have to take pride in taking responsibility and doing the job for the team. If you don't have the ability or resources to take 20 wickets in a Test match, then you are already playing for two results and that's not how we play.
Virat Kohli, when asked if he would play a sixth specialist batsman.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has ensured that India will come back stronger than ever in the fourth test of the ENG vs IND test series.
There has been a lot of discussion about the Asia Cup 2025 tournament for a long time. However, now a big report has come out regarding the start of this tournament. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting was to be held in Dhaka regarding Asia Cup 2025, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to attend it.
However, later BCCI attended this meeting online, where Asia Cup was discussed and it is being told that consensus has been reached for organizing the tournament. The tournament will start from 8 September.
Asia Cup 2025 starts on September 8
According to the report, Asia Cup 2025 will start from September 8 and its final match will be played on September 24. 8 teams will participate in it, in which India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan are full time members.
At the same time, the ACC Premier Cup winning team Hong Kong, Oman and UAE will also participate in it. According to the information, the tournament will be hosted in the UAE. However, BCCI will be its host and will release the schedule soon.
The tournament will be held in T20 format
Keeping in mind the T20 World Cup 2026, this time the Asia Cup will be held in T20 format. Last time there was a ODI World Cup, it was organized in ODI format. Matches were held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka under the hybrid model. The Indian team defeated Sri Lanka in the final and won the trophy of the last edition.
BCCI yet to confirm participation against Pakistan
A major question for the Asia Cup 2025 is whether India will play against Pakistan. Tensions remain high due to recent incidents like the Pahalgam terror attacks and India’s Operation Sindoor, leading to strong public sentiment against sporting ties with Pakistan.
This pressure has already led to the cancellation of the match between India Champions and Pakistan Champions at the World Championship of Legends, where Indian players withdrew in protest.
While the two teams might be placed in separate groups, a potential clash in the Super 4s or final would make a face-off inevitable, keeping fans and officials on edge.
'Needs a PR team': 15 players debuted, still no chance for Abhimanyu Easwaran
Since Abhimanyu Easwaran’s maiden India Test call-up, a total of 15 players have played a Test match for India with Anshul Kamboj being the latest one to join the list.
After Karun Nair's continuous flops, he was dropped from the playing XI in the ENG vs IND fourth Test match at Old Trafford. Everyone was hoping that if Karun sits on the bench, Abhimanyu Easwaran's years-long wait for a Test debut will end.
But captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir had decided something else. Sai Sudharsan was given a chance again at the Old Trafford ground and Abhimanyu remained sitting on the bench. He has been with the Indian Test team since 2021-22, but his dream of entering the field wearing Team India's jersey has not yet been realised.
Abhimanyu Easwaran has been coming to the squad for the last 4 years and returns home after giving water. Abhimanyu has spent a lot of time in the dressing room, but his dream of playing in Team India's jersey remains just a dream.
Since Abhimanyu's arrival in the Indian team, 15 players have made their Test debut, which also includes young players like Suryakumar Yadav, Rajat Patidar, Ishan Kishan with Anshul Kamboj being the latest one to join the list on Wednesday in Manchester, but his wait is still on.
But despite constantly proving his ability in domestic cricket, Abhimanyu just keeps resting on the bench. In first class cricket, Abhimanyu has 27 centuries to his name and he has also scored 7,841 runs. 31 fifties have also come from his bat.
Players who perform well in domestic cricket deserve a chance
Some time ago, a big debate broke out regarding domestic cricket. Everyone talked about giving importance to domestic cricket. Team India's head coach Gautam Gambhir himself says that players who perform well in domestic cricket deserve a chance.
But the truth is something else. Coach is not able to do justice to Abhimanyu while sitting in the dressing room. If a batsman remains on the bench for four years despite having around 8 thousand runs and 27 centuries, then what is the use of showing his ability in domestic cricket.
Abhimanyu is far ahead of Sudharsan
You have seen the statistics of Abhimanyu Easwaran, now let us tell you about the domestic record of Sai Sudharsan. Sudarshan has played a total of 30 first class matches so far, in which he has scored 1987 runs at an average of 36.
On the other hand, Abhimanyu's batting average is 54 despite playing 103 matches. Sudharsan has been able to score only 7 centuries and 5 half-centuries in 51 innings. From experience to batting record, Abhimanyu is far ahead of Sudharsan.
Sudharsan came into limelight only because of his strong performance in IPL 2025.
ENG vs IND 4th Test: Rishabh Pant to available for batting; Jurel will do wicketkeeping
India vice-captain Rishabh Pant, on Thursday, joined the Indian camp at the Old Trafford ground on Day 2 of the ongoing ENG vs IND fourth Test, a day after he sustained a foot injury.
Indian team's star wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant will be available to bat. However, he will not do wicketkeeping. Dhruv Jurel will take over wicketkeeping in his place. BCCI confirmed this news on Thursday through their X handle.
India vice-captain Rishabh Pant, on Thursday, joined the Indian camp at the Old Trafford ground on Day 2 of the ongoing ENG vs IND fourth Test, a day after he sustained a foot injury.
“Rishabh Pant, who sustained an injury to his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, will not be performing wicket-keeping duties for the remainder of the match. Dhruv Jurel will assume the role of wicket-keeper. Despite his injury, Rishabh Pant has joined the team on Day 2 and will be available to bat as per team requirements,” BCCI wrote.
𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: Rishabh Pant, who sustained an injury to his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, will not be performing wicket-keeping duties for the remainder of the match. Dhruv Jurel will assume the role of wicket-keeper.
However, the board has not said whether he is out of the series or not. Earlier, news agency PTI had informed that Pant is out of the remaining series.
Pant looked in a lot of pain
Pant was batting on 37 runs in the first innings when the ball hit his foot while attempting a reverse sweep. In the 68th over of the Indian innings, a ball from Chris Woakes hit his right leg. After this, he lay down on the ground and looked in a lot of pain.
Even when the physio arrived, he was seen groaning in pain. Then an attempt was made to lift him up and take him away, but he could not walk. Then he was taken to the ambulance. Blood was seen oozing from Pant's right leg, and there was a lot of swelling in that part of the body.
Post stumps, Pant was taken for scans, which confirmed a toe fracture.
“Yes, Rishabh Pant is ruled out of the series. He went for scans last night, and the reports have revealed a toe fracture. There is just no chance of him batting as he is in a lot of pain right now.” Source said.
Jurel to keep the wickets
The board may also ask KL Rahul to keep wickets, but he has not performed this responsibility since the South Africa tour in the 2023-24 season. The team's other wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel was not included in the playing XI for the fourth Test match.
This is the second time Pant has suffered an injury in the series. He injured his finger while wicketkeeping during the third Test at Lord's due to which he was unable to keep wickets in England's second innings. Dhruv Jurel had kept wicket as a replacement then. He will be seen keeping wicket in place of Pant in the ENG vs IND 4th test as well.
ENG vs IND 4th Test: 14 times in a row, Team India loses toss again, the odds of that are apparently 16,384-1
India's captain Shubman Gill lost the toss in the ENG vs IND fourth Test at Old Trafford. With Gill losing the toss, India have now lost 14 Test tosses in a row.
India's captain Shubman Gill lost the toss in the ENG vs IND fourth Test at Old Trafford. With Gill losing the toss, India have now lost 14 Test tosses in a row. The odds of that are, apparently, 16,384-1.
India is trailing the series 2-1 after a dramatic 22-run defeat at Lord’s.
India has lost the toss 14 times in a row since January 31, 2025. Earlier, this record was in the name of West Indies. West Indies had lost 12 consecutive tosses between February 2, 1999 and April 21, 1999. England is at number three in this list. England lost 11 consecutive tosses between December 17, 2022 and March 12, 2023.
Ben Stokes won the toss
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss on Wednesday and chose to field on an overcast morning in their crucial fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. History is against Stokes, though, as no team winning the toss and opting to bowl first has ever won a Test at Old Trafford.
India's result at Old Trafford
India has yet to win a Test at Old Trafford, having faced four defeats and five draws in nine previous matches at the Manchester ground.
India made three changes
India has made three changes in playing XI, with batsman Sai Sudharsan replacing Karun Nair, and Shardul Thakur and debutant Anshul Kamboj coming in for injured pacemen Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep.
Jasprit Bumrah was named to play by India. Before the ENG vs IND series commenced, it was announced that Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, would participate in only three of the five matches to safeguard his fitness following a back injury.
England had previously named their side, making just one change by recalling Liam Dawson for the left-arm spinner’s first Test in eight years after Shoaib Bashir suffered a series-ending finger injury at Lord’s.
Watch: Captain Harmanpreet Kaur shares her POTM award with the youngster after historic ODI series win against England
Harmanpreet Kaur, who won the Player of the Match in the third and final WODI of the ENGW vs INDW series in Chester-le-Street for her 102-run inning, shared the award with young pacer Kranti Goud, who took 6 wickets in the match.
Indian cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur shared her Player of the match award with youngster Kranti Goud, after India's historic WODI series against England on Tuesday in Chester-le-Street. India had won their maiden WODI series on English soil in 2022 and have now recorded their successive series win there.
Not only that, after winning their first-ever WT20I series on English soil, India registered their WODI series win, which makes it their most successful England tour ever.
After winning the first WODI of the series, England made a great comeback at Lord's. In the final match of the series, India then managed a narrow 13-run win at Durham International Cricket Ground.
Harmanpreet Kaur scored her 7th WODI ton. Image | BCCI on X
India won the toss and decided to bat first. After a good opening partnership of 64 runs, India lost Pratika Rawal on 26 off 33 balls. After that, England bowlers bounced back well, and in the meantime, India wanted to play out Sophie Ecclestone's spell.
With Harleen Deol struggling to get going, Smriti Mandhana wanted to push the accelerator. However, she lost her wicket while doing that after a solid 45 from 54 balls.
Post that, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur came out positively and built a solid 81-run partnership with Harleen Deol, who got out after scoring 45 off 65 balls. But Harmanpreet Kaur did not lose the momentum as she built another solid partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues.
Jemimah scored an attacking 50 from 45 balls. Image | BCCI on X
Kaur, who completed her fifty in just 54 balls, had an 110-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues. Jemimah perished after an attacking 50 from 45 balls while Harmanpreet Kaur reached her 7th WODI ton in just 82 balls.
India finished the first inning with 318/5 on the board. Kaur scored 102 of them in just 84 balls. Richa Ghosh played an unbeaten 38-run inning from just 18 balls.
Kranti Goud cleaned up Tammy Beaumont's stumps in the first over. Image | NurPhoto/Getty Images
The second inning started really well for India with youngster Kranti Goud cleaning up Tammy Beaumont's stumps in the first over. She then dismissed Amy Jones in her next over, with Deepti Sharma taking a stunning catch at gully.
But after that, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Emma Lamb steadied the ship for the home side. For the third wicket, they piled 162 runs with Lamb scoring 68 off 81 balls before getting out.
Dejected Nat Sciver-Brunt after getting out on 98. Image | Getty Images via ESPNCricinfo
However, the turning point of the match was when Deepti Sharma was able to get the big wicket of England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. Sciver-Brunt was first given not out, but an excellent review by India sent her back to the pavilion after an inning of 98 off 105 balls.
Post that, it was all about Kranti Goud, who picked up four more wickets to help India win by 15 runs. Goud finished with an excellent bowling figure of 9.5-1-2-6.
At 21 years 345 days, Kranti Gaud is the youngest pace bowler to take 6 or more wickets in a women's ODI innings. The previous youngest was England's Jo Chamberlain, who was 22y 85d when she took 7-8 against Denmark in 1991.
Kaur shared her player of the match award with Goud
After the historic series win, captain Harmanpreet Kaur shared her well-deserved Player of the Match Award with Kranti Goud, who was playing only her 4th WODI match. Goud picked up 6 wickets, which was influential for India's victory.
"Really happy with the way Kranti and all of them bowled, it shows how keen they were to win this match and the series," Harmanpreet Kaur said in the post-match presentation.
"I want to share the Player of the Match award with Kranti because she bowled one of the best spells of her career. The way she executed all the plans, I think she deserves to win the Player of the match award," Kaur said while handing the award to Kranti Goud.
Harmanpreet Kaur signed the match ball for Goud as well.
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