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As India gear up for their five-Test tour of England beginning June 20 at Headingley, all eyes will be on the next generation of Indian batters. With stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli no longer in the Test setup, the spotlight shifts to KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and newly-appointed skipper Shubman Gill—each bearing different responsibilities and career arcs as they look to anchor India’s top order in alien conditions.
KL Rahul: A legacy waiting for consistency
At 33, KL Rahul is the most experienced batter in the squad. With 955 runs from 13 Tests against England, including three centuries, Rahul’s quality is undeniable—but so is his inconsistency. His 149 at The Oval in 2018 remains iconic, crafted when India were tottering at 121/5. Yet, in the same series, Rahul aggregated only 152 runs in his remaining nine innings. The pattern repeated in the 2021 tour, where his majestic 129 at Lord’s helped India to a famous win, only to be followed by single-digit scores thereafter. Rahul averages 34.11 in English conditions and has often struggled to convert promising starts. With the experience of over a decade behind him, this series could define whether Rahul finally sheds his tag of “flashes of brilliance” and matures into India’s dependable pillar in the middle order.
Yashasvi Jaiswal : Young blood, big dreams
In contrast stands 23-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has stormed into Test cricket with a blend of fearlessness and flair. He enters this tour as India’s highest scorer in the previous Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the team’s new senior opener. Jaiswal’s home Test average of 60.61 across 10 matches is stunning, but this tour will be his biggest challenge yet. His away average (44.18) is respectable, though the swinging Dukes ball, early movement, and long spells from England’s seamers will ask questions he’s never faced before. With no Virat or Rohit to turn to for guidance, Jaiswal must lead India’s charge from the top with composure and intent. His hunger and recent form make him a key player to watch.
Shubman Gill: A captain with a point to prove Shubman Gill takes on the toughest job in cricket which is leading India in a Test series in England, while still evolving as a player himself. His overall Test average at home is an impressive 42.03, but it drops significantly overseas (29.50), and his record in England is particularly underwhelming: just 88 runs in three matches at an average of 14.66. Now, with captaincy adding weight to his already high expectations, the question isn’t just about runs, it’s about temperament. Gill will be judged not only on how he bats but how he leads a team missing its most iconic modern-day batters. Former teammate Cheteshwar Pujara has expressed faith in Gill’s ability to rise to the occasion. For now, belief will have to carry him until the runs come.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?A defining series for India’s next batting order India’s tour of England in 2025 will be the first full Test series without either Kohli or Rohit since 2011. The burden of scoring and leadership is now shared between a veteran seeking consistency (Rahul), a young gun on the rise (Jaiswal), and a captain still forging his identity (Gill). Their performances may well shape not only the outcome of this series, but also set the tone for India’s fortunes in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
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