Team India has revealed their 18-member squad for the Test series against England, featuring promising and gifted athletes. One standout player is Sai Sudarshan, who captivated everyone with his stellar performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. Prior to this series, Sudarshan shared insights from his interaction with the legendary Virat Kohli. Notably, Kohli has recently announced his retirement from Test cricket.
It is noteworthy that both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retired from Test cricket, which means they won't be part of the England tour. Sudarshan disclosed that his recent conversation with Kohli took place after the IPL 2025 final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. He congratulated Kohli on RCB's historic IPL title victory, where they triumphed over Punjab Kings in a thrilling six-run win. The 23-year-old also mentioned that his discussions with Kohli often revolve around handling pressure and consistently scoring runs.
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What Kohli Shared with Sudarshan
Sudarshan said, “I congratulated him after the final. It was a very special moment for him. Over the past few years, we've spoken several times. I admire his dedication and passion for the game. I also asked how he managed when runs weren’t coming and he faced challenges. Such experiences teach a lot to a cricketer, which is why I discussed it with him.
The Indian Test team's captain for the England tour will be Shubman Gill. This will be his first series as the captain in red-ball cricket. Sudarshan has played under Gill’s captaincy during a few seasons with Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL. Sudarshan, the Orange Cap winner in IPL 2025, mentioned that he learned confidence and game comprehension from Gill.
Sudarshan stated, “The greatest lesson is about mindset, confidence, and believing in one’s abilities. I’ve observed how they manage situations when they aren’t scoring runs. Understanding the game and life to continuously perform at one's best. Additionally, I've picked up some technical pointers that have been very beneficial.”
