BCCI on Thursday announced India's squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa. The Men in Blues will play three T20Is, as many ODIs, and two Tests. The three-match T20I series is scheduled to begin on December 10. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will not take part in the white ball formats.

Rohit will lead the team in the Test series. KL Rahul will lead the ODI side while Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead in T20Is as all-rounder Hardik Pandya has sustained an injury during the World Cup. Shubman Gill will also make a return in the t20i series

Also Read: IND vs AUS 4th T20I: Match Preview, Lineups, Pitch Report, Possible XI, and Dream XI Team Prediction

"Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had requested the Board for a break from the white-ball leg of the tour," BCCI said.

Sanju Samson is back in the ODI squad and so is Rajat Patidar. Sai Sudharsan earned his maiden India call-up for the three-match ODI series that also features leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Gill is part of the T20Is and the Tests while Surya will return home after leading India in the T20Is. Bumrah will join the squad for the two-match Test series starting December 26.

"Shami is currently undergoing medical treatment and his availability is subject to fitness," said BCCI. KL Rahul will make a return as a wicketkeeper in the Test squad. Jaiswal held on to his place as an opener for his superb outing in the West Indies.

Also Read: INDvsAUS: Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell among six senior players get rest for the last three T-20 matches

India vs South Africa: Full Schedule

• 1st T20I â€“ December 10, 2023 at 9:30 PM IST in Kingsmead, Durban

• 2nd T20I â€“ December 12, 2023 at 9:30 PM IST in St George's Park, Gqeberha

• 3rd T20I â€“ December 14, 2023 at 9:30 PM IST in New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

• 1st ODI â€“ December 17, 2023 at 1:30 PM IST in New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

• 2nd ODI â€“ December 19, 2023 at 4:30 PM IST in St George's Park, Gqeberha

• 3rd ODI â€“ December 21, 2023 at 4:30 PM IST in Boland Park, Paarl

• 1st Test â€“ December 26-30, 2023 at 1:30 PM IST in SuperSport Park, Centurion

• 2nd Test â€“ January 3-7, 2024 at 2:00 PM IST in Newlands, Cape Town

India's squad for 3 T20Is vs South Africa: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chahar.

India's squad for 3 ODIs vs South Africa: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (C)(wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar.

India's squad for 2 Tests vs South Africa: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohd. Shami*, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna.

The cricketing world is buzzing with discussions surrounding the upcoming IND vs ENG series, and a voice has highlighted a significant void: the absence of Virat Kohli. England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, has openly expressed his belief that India will feel the lack of Kohli's renowned "fighting spirit" and other things on the field.

Stokes also revealed how he texted Kohli after his decision to retire and term it as a shame he won't be there to play in the field.

This statement from an opponent shows the immense impact Kohli has left and the challenge India faces in a crucial series without one of its finest test players.

Check the full story of Ben Stokes on Virat Kohli's absence in England series:

Ben Stokes on Virat Kohli's absence in England series

Ben Stokes has analysed how Virat Kohli's absence can affect India, 2 days prior the test series against England. When asked about what India will miss in Kohli after he decided to step down from tests, here's how the English skipper replied:

"I think what India will miss, will be his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness, desire to win." He further goes on to add "It will be weird to not see number 18 at the back of any Indian shirt. I did text him saying it's going to be a shame not to play against him because I love playing against Virat."

Stokes also shared how he feels both Kohli and him have the same mindset when out in the field, and addressed the fact that he has done really well against England in his test career.

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Read Also: England vs India Test Series: Here is India's overall test record against England in England

India vs England squads for the upcoming test series

India: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana.

England: Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes

For years, the Board of Control for Crock in India (BCCI) has navigated various challenges. However a recent coury order is set to have a major financial impact on the sport's governing body.

This ruling revisits a past chapter involving a former IPL team and a long-standing dispute with them. The decision has arrived after a decade of the case, and brings a major setback for BCCI as Bombay HC orders to pay ₹538 crore to defunct IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

Read the full story to know why.

How the BCCI-Kochi Tuskers Kerala dispute began

The root of this major legal battle dates back to 2011, when the BCCI terminated the contract of the IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala. The team, managed by Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL), had only played in one IPL season.

The BCCI claimed they ended the contract because Kochi Tuskers failed to provide a required annual bank guarantee by a deadline in March 2011. This was seen by the BCCI as a serious breach of their agreement.

However, the team owners had a different view. They argued that their delay was due to several issues, including problems with the stadium in Kochi and delays in getting necessary approvals. They also stated that the BCCI continued to deal with them and even accepted payments for months after the March deadline.

The team owners believed this showed the BCCI had waived or overlooked the deadline, making their sudden contract termination unfair.

Taking the matter to arbitration:

Because they felt the termination was wrong, the Kochi Tuskers owners took the matter to arbitration in 2012. An independent tribunal looked at all the facts. In June 2015, this tribunal ruled in favor of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

The tribunal specifically directed the BCCI to pay ₹384.83 crore to Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) for lost earnings and ₹153.34 crore to Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) for a wrongfully cashed bank guarantee. These amounts also included interest and legal costs.

Read Also: Anaya Bangar requests BCCI, ICC to revisit their current policies on transgender inclusion in women’s cricket

The Financial Fallout: Why ₹538 crore to be paid now?

The BCCI challenged the 2015 arbitration award in the Bombay High Court, arguing it was unfair and that the damages were too high. However, the recent Bombay HC ruling upheld the original arbitration decision.

This means the BCCI is now legally required to pay a total of over ₹538 crore, including accumulated interest since 2015, to the KTK owners. This represents a major financial loss and a significant legal defeat for the Indian cricket board.

Recently the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle ended. The final match of which was won by South Africa. South Africa was successful in winning its first ICC trophy after 27 years after defeating Australia. But amidst all this, former South African captain AB de Villiers has raised questions on the WTC format and has demanded several reforms from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Also Read: Winners list of last 10 ICC Tournaments (men's)

De Villiers raised questions on the WTC format

AB de Villiers has strongly advocated making the World Test Championship schedule more fair and consistent for all Test playing nations. De Villiers, 41, has suggested a four-year cycle like the ODI World Cup, instead of the current two-year cycle, to ensure every team can compete against other Test-playing sides.

Speaking to BBC Sport, AB de Villiers expressed his disappointment. He said, “We’ve had some very disappointing and sad ends to a lot of campaigns, especially the World Cups, but now it’s time to start believing that we can do this more often,” 

“[This moment] won’t be lost. It was too big and too special for all South Africans – it was a Test match no one will ever forget. But yes, to a certain extent, something needs to be done.”

De Villiers advocates making WTC a balanced system

AB de Villiers further elaborated during this interaction, “I saw the schedule that came out for the next cycle of the WTC and there is an improvement, but I still feel there’s work that needs to be done there to just to get it as consistent as possible and as fair as possible for all for all Test-playing nations.”

“You want to get to that final feeling like you’ve played against all these nations,” De Villiers added. “Maybe a four-year cycle would be nice. We’ve done that in the past with one-day internationals, so why not in Test cricket? It would make sense and it would give the organisers just so much more time to get a really fair, well-balanced system out there.”

De Villiers believes a longer cycle will allow teams to play a sufficient number of matches, making a team's journey to the final more credible.

Also Read: Best figures in ICC WTC Final

South Africa played least number of Test matches in WTC 2023-25

De Villiers' comments come at a time when the Proteas have played the least number of Test matches (12) among the nine teams during the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. The number was a full 10 matches less than England's 22, while Australia, who face South Africa, played 19 matches during the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

In the history of Indian Test Cricket, reaching the 2000-run milestone has always been a matter of pride. While many have achieved this feat, only a few have done so with remarkable speed.

Currently, the record for the fastest Indians to score 2000 test runs is jointly held by Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, both accomplishing it in 40 innings. However, a new name is on the verge of making history: Yashasvi Jaiswal, with 1798 runs from 36 innings, needs only 202 more runs.

If Jaiswal reaches this in 3 or fewer innings, potentially in the upcoming test series against England (starts on June 20, 2025), he will break the legendary record and reach on top!

Now, let's look at the elite list of players who previously set the standard by being the fastest Indians to reach 2000 test runs.

1. Rahul Dravid (40 innings)

Rahul Dravid, famously known as "The Wall" for his brilliant defensive technique and concentration in tests, reached 2000 test runs in just 40 innings. His ability to bat for longer periods and wearing down the opposition was a key aspect for India's Test success.

Read Also: Most successful Test captains from India

2. Virender Sehwag (40 innings)

Virender Sehwag, the aggressive opening batsman, matched Dravid's record by also reaching 2000 test runs in 40 innings. He was known for his fearless approach while batting at the top of the order.

He is also the only Indian to score 2 triple centuries in his test career.

3. Vijay Hazare (43 innings)

An icon of Indian cricket's early era, Vijay Hazare reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was an incredible run-scorer in his time, known for his elegant batting and contributions.

His contributions mattered highly during a period when Indian cricket was finding its status on the international stage.

4. Gautam Gambhir (43 innings)

The bold left-handed opener, Gautam Gambhir, also reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was a crucial part of India's top order in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Gambhir was known for his mental toughness and ability to play long innings when required, with high determination and focus.

Read Also: India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?

5. Sunil Gavaskar (44 innings)

Sunil Gavaskar, one of the greatest opener in Tests cricket history, scored 2000 test runs in 44 innings. He was known for batting fearlessly and facing West Indian fast bowlers without modern protective gear.

Gavaskar was the first player to reach 10000-run mark in test cricket history, and also holds the 3rd place for most runs for India in tests.

The Indian cricket team will tour England to play a five-match Test series against England from June 20, 2025. The first match of the England vs India Test series will be played at Headingley Stadium, Leeds.

The Test cricket battle between India and England has always been exciting and challenging, especially when the match is played on English soil. The Indian team has played a total of 67 Test matches in England from 1932 to 2022. India's record in these matches has not been so strong. India has won only 9 times, while the English team has defeated the Indians in 36 matches. The remaining 22 matches have been drawn, which tells the story of this historic struggle and how hard the Indian team has to work to win on English soil.

Also Read: England vs India Test Series: Here is India's overall test record against England in England

In this article, we will take a look at those 9 test matches that India won on English soil.

England vs India Test series: 9 test matches India won so far on English soil

1. By 4 Wickets (1971)

India has tamed the British cricket lion in its own den for the first time in 1971. It was a historic day when India beat England in the third and final Test by four wickets with 205 minutes to spare at the Kennington Oval, to clinch the series 1-0.

The victory established at least three firsts. This was the first time India won a Test in England. It was the first time in, 28 Tests since June 1968 that England was defeated and it was also the first time that India triumphed in two series in one year, having defeated the West Indies earlier.

2. By 5 Wickets (1986)

The 1986 win at Lord’s was India’s first at the iconic venue. Under the leadership of Legendary Kapil Dev, Team India went on to win at Headingley. This win also paved the way for Team India to win the historic Test series on English-soil.

In the first Test of the series, India bowled England out for 294 and replied with 341, with Dilip Vengsarkar scoring a superb 126*. Kapil Dev’s all-round performance and Chetan Sharma’s five-wicket haul in the second innings helped India dismiss England for 180. Needing just 134 to win, India achieved the target with 5 wickets to spare, scripting a historic triumph at the "Home of Cricket."

3. By 279 Runs (1986)

The Indian team carried the momentum into the second Test at Leeds where the bowling attack completely blew away England with the visitors winning by 279 runs inside 4 days. Roger Binny took 7 wickets in the match including a five-wicket haul in the first innings and was ably supported by Kapil (3 wickets), Madan Lal (3 wickets) and Maninder Singh (4 wickets).

4. By an innings and 46 Runs (2002)

India's first Test victory in England in the new millennium took place in 2002 when Sourav Ganguly's team thrashed the hosts by an innings and 46 runs in the third Test at Leeds to level the four-match series 1-1.

India crossed the 600-run barrier for the first time against England as Sachin Tendulkar (193), Rahul Dravid (148) and Sourav Ganguly (128) ripped apart the English bowling attack to declare the first innings on 628 for 8. The bowlers then led India to victory with Anil Kumble leading the way with 7 wickets in the match while Harbhajan Singh (4), Zaheer Khan (3) and Ajit Agarkar (2) played the supporting roles. England had won the first match at Lord's while the second and fourth match ended in draws as Ganguly and Nasser Hussain shared the trophy.

5. By 7 Wickets (2007)

Five years after the Leeds victory India repeated history by claiming the series 1-0 under Rahul Dravid by winning the second Test at Nottingham. India took a massive 283-run first innings lead after bowling out the hosts for 198 with Zaheer Khan (4) and Anil Kumble (3) leading the wickets tally.

Captain Michael Vaughan's hundred in the second innings couldn't save England's batting collapse as they got bowled out for 355 thanks to some brilliant bowling by a fired-up Zaheer, who took a five-wicket haul after the jellybean prank which England had played on him during India's first innings.

This meant that India needed just 73 runs to win which they chased down in 24.1 overs with 7 wickets in hand and took a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. The third Test at The Oval ended in a draw as Sourav Ganguly lifted the Pataudi Trophy, named in honour of former India captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

6. By 95 Runs (2014)

MS Dhoni led the Indian team in a five-match Test series and delivered the first blow on the hosts by winning at Lord's for the first time after 1986.

The first Test ended in a draw at Nottingham following which the teams locked horns on a green top at Lord's. Ajinkya Rahane scored one of the greatest hundreds in Indian Test history as he negotiated prodigious swing and seam movement against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Such was Rahane's class that none of the other batsmen managed to score over 36 runs, which was the next best score coming from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. India made 295 and then conceded a first innings lead of 24 runs with Gary Ballance scoring a century. Bhuvneshwar took a six-wicket haul as England made 319.

Murali Vijay (95), Ravindra Jadeja (68) and Bhuvneshwar (52) then rose to the occasion with the bat in the second innings to help India set a target of 319 for the hosts. Ishant Sharma then produced one of the most memorable spells by an Indian bowler on English soil and picked up a record 7 wickets in the process as India bowled out England for 223 and registered a historic win at the Mecca of cricket.

7. By 203 Runs (2018)

As team India took the field in Nottingham, Kohli and his men were determined to make amends and they did it in style. After being put in to bat by Root, India were off to a commendable start thanks to KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan and after they departed, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane put on a 189-run stand for the fourth wicket to take India to a commendable position. Rahane scored 81 and Kohli missed his century by three runs as he fell for 97. India were eventually bowled out for 329 but the stage was set for India to make a comeback in the series.

The bowlers didn't' disappoint as well. Led by Hardik Pandya, India rocked England and bowled them out for a paltry total of 161. Pandya answered his critics in style as he grabbed his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests.

With a lead of 168, India were again provided a solid start by their openers and after they fell, Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli led the charge as they planned to bat England out of the game. Pujara fell for a gritty 72 but Kohli scored his 23rd Test century and it was followed by a run-a-ball 52 from Pandya as the visitors declared for 352/7, with a lead of 520.

Chasing 521 to win, the England openers somehow managed to play out the nine overs on day four but the nervousness and fear was there in their mammoth chase. Bumrah got the wickets of Buttler and Woakes early and then Pandya got the wicket of Stokes to get England eight down. And finally Ashwin got the wicket of Anderson to earn a 203-run victory for the visitors

8. By 151 Runs (2021)

In one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory, India defeated England by 151 runs at Lord’s in the second Test of the 2021 series. After setting a target of 272 thanks to a stunning 89-run partnership between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, India’s bowlers went on the attack.

Led by Mohammed Siraj (4/32), India bowled England out for 120 in just 51.5 overs. The aggressive attitude under Virat Kohli’s captaincy and India’s never-say-die spirit made this a modern classic.

9. By 157 Runs (2021)

India secured a famous win at The Oval in the fourth Test of the 2021 series. Rohit Sharma scored his first overseas Test hundred (127), anchoring a solid second-innings effort.

Shardul Thakur played two impactful cameos with bat and ball, while the pace trio of Bumrah, Siraj, and Umesh Yadav dismantled England in the fourth innings. India won by 157 runs and took a 2-1 lead in the series, reaffirming their dominance on English soil.