South Africa triumphed over India in the first ODI match of the series and won the game by 31 runs. During the post-match press conference of SA vs IND 1st ODI, the Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan explained the reason behind India's defeat.

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Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, and Shardul Thakur scored 3 half-centuries in the SA vs IND 1st ODI. Still, this was not enough for the Indian cricket team to chase down 297 runs. India completed their innings on 265/8 in 50 overs and lost the 1st match by a huge margin.

One of the most talked-about points from the conference was why Venkatesh Iyer was not taken as a bowling option. Dhawan said that India did not require Venkatesh to bowl as the spinners were playing well and there was turn on the wicket. He also added that the team also went to their main bowlers when the bowlers were unable to pick up the wickets of the Proteas. The Southpaw said that they turned to the spinners towards the end of the innings.

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We didn't need him because the spinners did well: Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan said, "We didn't need him because the spinners did well and there was some turn in the wicket. Fast bowlers were mostly used at the end. In the middle-overs when the wicket was not falling, our thinking was to bring back the main bowlers to get the breakthrough but we couldn't do that. Then, in the end, it was important to bring our main bowlers, like our spinners."

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra did not agree with the decision of not using Venkatesh as the 6th bowling option. Gautam said that Iyer should have got the opportunity to bowl at least 5-6 overs as he was added to the squad as an all-rounder. Aakash Chopra agreed with him and added, "It seems only you and I are looking at him that way." 

Abhimanyu Easwaran was named the captain of the India A team for the tour of England as the BCCI announced the India A squad for the upcoming tour starting from 30th May 2025. 

India A will play two first-class matches against the England Lions at Canterbury and Northampton. Then they will play a practice match against the senior Indian team to prepare them for the big series against England. 

Karun Nair was rewarded for his excellent domestic form as he made a return to the India A side. His performance for the A side might decide whether he will be given a chance for the senior team or not.

Abishek Porel, who was named in the last India A's tour to Australia, has been replaced by Ishan Kishan in the side.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who will be busy in the Indian Premier League for the Gujarat Titans, will join the squad from the second match. 

India A squad for the England tour

India A squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC) (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey

India A' schedule for the England tour

RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute? Yes! Fans are planning a special "wear white" initiative and asking the crowd to show up in whites for the upcoming RCB vs KKR match at Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 17, 2025.

As the IPL is set to resume tomorrow, and we will witness Virat Kohli play his first match after his announcement of test retirement, fans are organising a heartfelt tribute for the King!

The viral spread of white wave

A fan-driven moment is going viral recently where they call the crowd to wear white for a collective tribute to Virat Kohli after his test retirement.

Whether you have a test jersey or not, all they ask for is wearing anything white instead of the jerseys of IPL franchises.

Discussions on Reddit

The white tribute takes shape on reddit as fans try to reach out as much as possible.

Fans pledge to wear white in Instagram comments

Fans leave heartfelt messages on comments section of official Royal Challengers Bengaluru Instagram page.

Hashtags like #WearWhiteForVirat, #KohliTestTribute, and #KohliTestFarewell are the ones people are using to make this a trend before the upcoming IPL 2025 match.

Content Creators spreading the word

Many content creators have joined hands to support this initiative and they are getting huge responses.

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A post shared by Cricket Machas (@cricketmachas)

Harsha Bhogle reacts on Twitter 

Hey @RCBTweets fans, are you planning to turn up in white for the game on the 17th? Remember seeing a post suggesting that. It will be incredible and a sight for the ages if true and if you can pull it off.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 15, 2025

The comments section in response to the initiative is getting flooded with comments like "Count me in," and "Wearing white with pride!" 

Many are tagging their acquaintance with messages like "@[friends username] Let's do it!"

Will you show up on May 17 at Chinnaswamy Stadium in whites too?

After the Champions Trophy 2025, India's target in ODI cricket will be the ODI World Cup 2027. In such a situation, know what is Team India's ODI schedule till the World Cup 2027. The Men in Blue have to play a total of 9 series in the next ICC ODI tournament, which includes 27 matches.

Apart from this, some more ODI matches can be scheduled near the tournament. So, know what is the ODI schedule of Indian Cricket Team till 2027 and when India will face which team.

Also Read: The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

The ODI World Cup2027 will be held around October to December. Before this, the Indian team is going to play a lot of matches. India have to play 3-match ODI series against 8 teams. They will play series twice against one country.

India will play New Zealand twice

India will play Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka once each in the upcoming ODI series, while it will play New Zealand twice. Out of the nine series, India will play six series at home, while the rest will be held outside the country.

It will start with the tour of Bangladesh in August, which will be played this year. In October-November 2025, India has to play a three-match ODI series on its tour of Australia. South Africa's team will tour India in November-December.

India will host Sri Lankan team in December 2026

In January 2026, the New Zealand team will play an ODI series in India. After this, India has to play a three-match series against Afghanistan in June. In July 2026, Team India will have to play the same number of ODI series on its tour of England.

The West Indies team is scheduled to tour India in September-October. There will be an ODI series against New Zealand at home in October-November. India will host the Sri Lankan team for an ODI series in December 2026.

Also Read: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

India's ODI schedule till World Cup 2027

Virat Kohli's decision to step away from tests makes it a key question to ask, observe and analyse its effects on fans and their engagement with Test cricket.

People on the internet are talking about the closure of a big chapter. So, now that the chapter is closed, it will be crucial to check if the fans still embrace the long format.

Let's dive into the depths of this particular question that will rise in the days ahead: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

Kohli's unmatched influence on Test cricket fandom

Virat Kohli has left his mark and impact beyond just his bat and performance. The sentimental connection fans had with him in tests is hard to put into words.

Considering India had exceptional test cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar, what is it about this man that his test exit is feeling like an irreplaceable void?

• Virat Kohli is the most successful Indian Test captain and holds the record for most victories, with 40 wins in total.
• His captaincy at home soil was exceptional, which showed everyone how dominant the Indian team can be, winning 24 out of 31 matches.
• Kohli's presence in Tests was unique. He inspired millions of fans to watch the format, who were drawn by his presence and performance.
• He fundamentally reshaped the Test landscape for India by proving the entire world that this country is equally good in Test just like other formats.
• Kohli's on-field intensity made every moment iconic for the teammates and fans to watch.
• He holds the record for scoring the most double centuries as an Indian batter, with 7 double centuries in his career. 
• Kohli's hunger for doing better and delivering crucial knocks and centuries for the team has drawn so many non-cricket fans to watch this format.
• Fans felt a strong emotional connection to his journey, following the highs and lows, and his commitment to winning for India.

Read Also: Most successful Test captains from India

What could Kohli's absence mean for the Test in India?

Virat Kohli's role in this format has been significant, on and off the ground. The reaction of fans after his retirement news made it clear how he has defined an entire generation's perception of the format.

Social media is flooded with posts and comments like "End of an Era," "Test cricket won't be the same without the King," "Grew up watching him fire in tests, a part of our childhood is gone today," and many others.

While some people are recalling those "memories and battles," some are acknowledging "the irreplaceable void and future of test cricket for India."

Read Also: "End of an era": Cricketing world reacts to Virat Kohli's test retirement

The kind of reaction and energy from the fandom makes it obvious to speculate how challenging it can be to keep the same level of interest in tests now. It makes it even questionable as the former captain, Rohit Sharma, has also decided to retire from Test cricket, days before Kohli's retirement.

The whole nation will definitely miss Ro-Ko in tests. But will it affect their interest in this format?

It will be a vital thing to keep an eye on in the future.

Cricket, a sport loved by millions around the world, has witnessed the rise of several legendary players. In the modern era, four exceptional batsmen have stood out with their consistent brilliance, earning them the title of the “Fab Four players.” Their performances are often compared under the widely discussed Fab four Stats.

These iconic cricketers – Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith have set new benchmarks for batting excellence across formats. 

Virat Kohli recently announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier today (May 12) with a post on his official Instagram handle. He ended his 14-year illustrious career in the format.

In this article, we will take a closer look at their remarkable careers, comparing their updated statistics and achievements to understand what makes them the finest batsmen of the modern era in Test cricket. 

Also Read: Fav four in cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith overall stats

So, let's take a look at the statistics of the Fav Four in Test cricket.

Fav four in Test cricket | Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith

Test cricket, often considered the ultimate test of a player’s skill and temperament, has seen these four players shine brightly. Here’s how they stack up in the longest format.

Virat Kohli's peak in Test cricket arrived well before the likes of Joe Root and Kane Williamson. Steve Smith matched him toe to toe during that period, but the 12-month ban due to the sandpaper gate overshadowed his brilliance in the format. 

However, when we compare the numbers of Fab four in 2025, Kohli has fallen way behind his contemporaries. Root is at the peak of his powers in Test cricket in the last five years while Williamson has never really been out of form in the whites.

Smith has been on and off over the last couple of years, but his form has never been a concern for Australia in Tests. When it comes to runs, averages and centuries, Kohli ranks last among Fab four and a lot of it has to do with his downfall in the format since November 2019.

Also Read: Sachin vs Kohli: Stats Comparison in Test Cricket

Here is a comparison of Fav four in Test cricket.

Fav four in Test cricket | How Kohli finished in Tests compared to Fab four

It is certain that Virat Kohli, who was once untouchable in the debate of Fab Four, will remain at the bottom forever when compared to his contemporaries. Only if his form hadn't dropped after November 2019, the 36-year-old, today, has stepped down from the format with some unreal numbers.