A Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin-less Indian team got off to a confident start in the first Test of the five-match series against England at Headingley. Asked to bat first by England skipper Ben Stokes, India’s young opening pair — KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal — batted with a mix of discipline and flair, countering the English pace quartet of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Stokes himself.
Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was full of praise for the openers, highlighting their ability to leave deliveries outside the off-stump — an area where former India captain Virat Kohli often found himself vulnerable, particularly in his later years in Test cricket. Kohli, who retired from Tests in May 2025, was dismissed all eight times in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy while chasing balls wide of off stump — a long-standing weakness exploited effectively by Australian pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland.
Jaiswal and Rahul, however, showcased a more refined approach. They neutralised the new ball threat by carefully selecting which deliveries to play and which to let go. “Both batters left full deliveries outside off beautifully,” Manjrekar said during commentary. “Jaiswal drove anything pitched up into the stumps, while Rahul didn’t even look at anything full just outside off stump. These are signs of a clear game plan.”
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Sanjay Manjrekar even made a subtle dig, saying, “We know of a former batter who would have gone after that delivery and got himself into trouble. But not these two.”
Ironically, KL Rahul did eventually fall to that exact temptation, chasing a wide delivery from Brydon Carse and edging it for 42. Still, the opening stand had already laid a solid foundation for India.
Sanjay Manjrekar is cooking Kohli😂
Sanjay Manjrekar 🗣️: “There’s a former batter who’d have chased it and messed up, but not these two champs!” pic.twitter.com/ZOWhhwDMVA— Hawasi Mulla (@HawasiMulla) June 20, 2025
*KL Rahul leaves off side off Stump ball*
Sanjay Manjrekar on live TV : We know a former batter who would have gone after it and got himself into trouble but not these two
This is what Virat Kohli has achieved in his test career 😭 pic.twitter.com/Pat4lyKHIE
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) June 20, 2025
The match also marked a new chapter for India’s Test side. Sai Sudharsan was handed his debut and slotted in at No. 3, while Karun Nair returned to the XI after an eight-year hiatus, batting at No. 6. Both represent India’s investment in fresh but technically sound talent.
Manjrekar believes this new generation, while young, is equipped for the demands of red-ball cricket. “They have the technique to survive in tough Test conditions. Even someone like Sai Sudharsan, known for his T20 exploits, has a solid defence. Rishabh Pant too — he’s not just flamboyance; he can defend well. Jadeja is dependable, and Karun Nair… well, we’ll have to wait and see. But the openers have shown excellent defensive awareness.”
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Meanwhile, England went with just one spinner, handing a start to young Shoaib Bashir, as the surface looked seam-friendly. As the series unfolds, this Test could set the tone for a fascinating battle between India’s next-gen batters and England’s evolving bowling unit.
