Tough England Tour a Big Test for New-Look India
Former South African captain AB de Villiers believes that India’s young Test side is capable of doing something special in the upcoming England tour, but only if they have faith in their ability. Speaking in Mumbai on Saturday (May 31, 2025), de Villiers acknowledged the challenge of the five-Test series but called on the next generation to rise to the occasion.
India will be led by 25-year-old Shubman Gill, marking the start of a new World Test Championship cycle. With stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli recently announcing their retirements, the team enters a new era. The absence of senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired during the 2024 Australia tour, and experienced pacer Mohammed Shami—left out due to fitness concerns—adds further weight on the youngsters.
Time for the Next Generation to Step Up
“Yes, it’s time for the younger guys to step up… Shubman Gill is taking on the responsibility,” de Villiers
The South African legend credited the Indian Premier League for nurturing young talent and providing a platform for early exposure to top-level cricket.
“There’s lots of talent in India and largely credit to the IPL for that; (it is) really giving great exposure to some of the youngsters at a very early age,” he added.
“We saw Vaibhav Suryavanshi this year (and) many other youngsters; they come in their first year and they look very mature and ready to play cricket and it’s a great platform for Indian cricket,” he said.
Belief Will Be Key in Testing English Conditions
The former RCB star stressed that England’s conditions will be a major challenge, but India’s talent pool is strong enough to compete if they remain confident.
“They’ve got to take some responsibility on in England; it’ll be a tough test, but they have all the talent in the world and if they believe, maybe they can achieve something special,” he said.
Kohli Leaves a Lasting Legacy
Speaking about Virat Kohli, de Villiers reflected on his long-time RCB teammate’s retirement from Test cricket, calling it a loss for the format.
“He followed his gut feel. I think he has done a lot for cricket around the world over the years. Luckily, we’ll still see him on the cricket field. He will be missed in Test matches; there is no doubt about it, but he leaves (behind) a great legacy with the red ball,” de Villiers said.
IPL 2025: Still Backing PBKS Despite Qualifier Setback
Turning his attention to the IPL, de Villiers continued to show support for Punjab Kings despite their crushing eight-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1. PBKS are now set to face Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 on Sunday (June 1, 2025) in Ahmedabad.
“I said quite a while ago, about a month ago, that Gujarat (Titans) and RCB will be in the final. It looks like the odds are against my call but it is still cricket, you never know, it is a knockout match,” he said.
De Villiers admitted that MI’s performance in the high-scoring eliminator against GT gave him some second thoughts, but he hasn’t given up on Punjab just yet.
“It takes one or two great performances to turn the pressure onto your opposition. It’s still going to be Punjab but I’ve got a little bit of doubt on my mind after watching last night’s game,” said de Villiers.
About the Author
Arpit Sharma is a sports writer and journalism student at Chandigarh University, with a strong interest in sports analysis and storytelling. His writing combines match insights with a fresh, fan-first perspective that brings the game to life.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Vygr's views.
With inputs from agencies
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