KL Rahul: "It's Time for the Rest of Us to Step Up" After Kohli and Rohit's Test Retirement

India is set to enter a new era under the leadership of Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul finds himself in an unfamiliar position: as the senior-most batter in the team. Just a few months ago, Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma were playing together in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but with Kohli and Rohit retiring within days of each other, Rahul now has a new role to fill.

"It feels strange walking into a dressing room without Virat or Rohit," Rahul said in an interview with his IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals. "They have been the pillars of Indian cricket for the past decade, and their absence will be a huge void. But it's time for the rest of us to step up."

England has historically been a challenging country for Indian batsmen, but Rahul has fond memories there, having scored two Test centuries. He has already begun his preparations for the series, working closely with his coach. "It's always a challenge coming to England, especially with them being a strong side at home," he noted. "But we are a young team, and this will be a great opportunity for us to grow."

The series will also see Rahul reunite with Karun Nair, a close friend from his early cricketing days. Nair has made a remarkable comeback to the Indian Test side after an eight-year absence. "We started playing cricket together as 11-year-olds, and both of us have had our ups and downs," Rahul said. "Karun's comeback is commendable, and I hope we can play together for the Indian team for a very long time."