The last time India triumphed in a Test match on English soil was at The Oval in 2021. Back then, the youngest batter among the top six was KL Rahul, aged 29. He shared the dressing room with the stalwarts of India’s golden Test generation — Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ravindra Jadeja — all key figures in India’s rise in the post-2010 era.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Indian Test team is undergoing a full-fledged generational shift. With Kohli and Rohit announcing their Test retirements earlier this month, and Rahane and Pujara having already been phased out, only Jadeja and Rahul remain from that iconic lineup. The reins have now passed to a new leader, 25-year-old Shubman Gill, ushering in a transition that had long been anticipated but emotionally resisted by fans.
While such changes are often met with nostalgia and trepidation, Cheteshwar Pujara, who himself was part of the generation that succeeded the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, and Ganguly, views it as an opportunity. Speaking to News18 CricketNext in a Sony Sports call, Pujara reflected on how this fresh crop of players can seize the moment to forge a new identity.
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“When you have a great opportunity like this, you come together as a team and look different on the field,” Cheteshwar Pujara said. “Without the seniors around, everyone is on equal footing. It encourages unity and collective responsibility.”
While optimistic, Pujara didn’t sugarcoat the challenge awaiting the team in England. “It’s not going to be easy. Wins will have to be earned, not expected,” he cautioned. He emphasised the need for India’s experienced players — Rahul, Bumrah, Pant — to support Gill both on and off the field.
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India’s new chapter begins with a five-Test series against England starting June 20 at Headingley, preceded by an India ‘A’ tour that kicks off May 30. It’s the dawn of a new era — one with fresh faces, fresh energy, and a steep challenge ahead.
