Rajasthan Royals’ batting coach and former India cricketer Vikram Rathour has expressed strong confidence in young batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel as they prepare for their first Test tour of England. Speaking after RR’s final IPL 2025 game—a six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings—Rathour praised the duo’s temperament and technique, predicting that both are well-equipped to handle the challenges of red-ball cricket in English conditions.
Jaiswal and Jurel, part of India’s transitional core, will soon join the India ‘A’ squad ahead of the five-match Test series against England. India ‘A’ will play two four-day games, the first beginning on May 30 in Canterbury against the England Lions. This will be followed by an intra-squad fixture against the senior Indian Test team on June 13 in Beckenham.
The Test series itself begins on June 20 at Headingley, marking Jaiswal and Jurel’s maiden international experience in England. Rathour, who made his own Test debut in England back in 1996, acknowledged the challenge ahead, particularly with the absence of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom recently retired.
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“It’s not going to be an easy tour,” Vikram Rathour said at the post-match press conference. “There’s a young team going, possibly a new captain, and naturally there will be added pressure. But it’s also a great opportunity. Jaiswal has already impressed at the international level, and Jurel has shown great maturity and technique. I believe both have what it takes to succeed.”
India is currently entering a new phase in its Test journey, with the World Test Championship cycle beginning anew. The recent retirements of Rohit, Kohli, and R Ashwin have sparked widespread discussion about their untimely exits. Rathour, however, offered a composed take:
“Retirement is an intensely personal decision. All three—Rohit, Virat, and Ash—are legends of the game. Of course, I would’ve loved to see them continue. But if they’ve made that call, we must respect it.”
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As Indian cricket begins a generational shift, Rathour’s words carry both nostalgia for the past and hope for the future—a future he believes players like Jaiswal and Jurel are ready to shape.
