After the end of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, former Indian wicket-keeper batter Robin Uthappa has picked KL Rahul and not Shubman Gill as the player who has impressed him the most, not only with his batting prowess but also with his energy on the field and his spirit to back the team as a senior pro.
The Anderson-Tendulkar trophy might have come to an end, but the intense cricket action witnessed over the past 1.5 months has not yet departed from the minds of ICT fans as well as cricket pundits.
The series would be remembered as one of the most closely fought series between India and England in the longest format of the game. The two teams shared the trophy with a 2-2 scoreline; however, every match went to a crunch ending and was played till the final day of the match.
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Robin Uthappa sidelines Shubman Gill, picks KL Rahul as India’s icon
In a recent appearance for the KimAppa Show, Indian star Robin Uthappa mentioned KL Rahul as the player he was most with. He has dared to step aside from picking Shubman Gill, who has been an obvious choice in recent times.
“I have particularly liked Rahul in this series, as far as being the senior pro is concerned,” Uthappa mouths massive praise.
“He has rallied the boys around really well. He’s had this quiet kind of demeanour throughout the series, where he’s gone about doing his job whilst at the same time taking hold and taking stock of the entire team as well.”
“We can see a sense of responsibility to make sure everyone stays together,” he further added.
Uthappa also praised Mohammed Siraj, saying he has been adding to the efforts of KL Rahul and the team.
KL Rahul unleashed his side as a leader in England
In the India vs England series, none showed much faith in the Indian team, as it consisted of younger players in the form of a newly announced skipper and a team consisting largely of youngsters, especially after the retirement of their two veterans, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
India might not have lacked talent, but they lacked experience, which was evident during their first match loss at Headingley. However, KL Rahul was among the most experienced cricketers among the team members, and he made it felt in every way possible.
As a batter, he redefined standards and scored 500+ runs with several crucial match-saving innings; however, his further, more crucial role came on the field when he, despite having no leadership role, was seen engaging in continuous conversations and being a massive support to their players.
Rahul’s composed nature, even in heated moments, makes him one of the most ideal characters on the field.
KimAppa Show
KL Rahul stood firm
Watch the rest of the episode on Good Areas Live on YouTube pic.twitter.com/OaPqgVD4jk
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) August 13, 2025
Virat-Rohit’s retirement buzz continues for ODIs
Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been surrounded by the uncertainty of a retirement call ahead of the ODI series against Australia. Virat and Rohit both retired from Tests and are currently only part of the ODI format.
However, with the two veterans being nearly 40 around the time of the upcoming World Cup in 2027, and India looking to chalk out plans for the marquee tournament from now onwards, the inclusion of the two in recent matches does not seem probable.
It has to be admitted that both batters have been in stunning form in the 50-over format, and for Kohli, the commitment and fitness standards can also not be questioned. However, for the Indian skipper, fitness is a bigger concern than age or batting form.
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