As the dust begins to settle on the recently concluded World Test Championship 2025 Final, the focus now turns to yet another blockbuster Test clash that will be hosted in less than a week's time. The five-match Test series between India and England is just around the corner, and the series promises to bring viewers a lot of thrill and entertainment. For the first time, India will have a new captain in the form of young Shubman Gill, who will be leading the side in the absence of premium Indian stalwarts like Virat and Rohit. Moreover, there is also a growing possibility of seeing Arshdeep Singh make his maiden appearance for India in whites as well as the comeback of Karun Nair into the Indian Test squad after nearly nine years. 

Prior to the buildup to the highly anticipated Test series, JioHotstar has unveiled a power-packed commentary panel across several languages. The one for English comprises nine swashbuckling personalities from India and England. Ravi Shastri, Dinesh Karthik, Navjoot Singh Siddu, Sanjay Manjrekar, Anil Kumble, and Abhinav Mukund are some of the highly renowned voices in the field of cricketing broadcasting in India, who have managed to make it to this panel. Besides, the likes of legendary Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton will oversee the English commentary from an English point of view, along with former English pacer Stuart Broad, who is just beginning to make early marks in his young broadcasting career.

See also: England announce squad for 1st Test against India, Surprise picks

English commentary panel for the Ind-End Test series:

🚨 COMMENTARY PANEL OF ALL LANGUAGES FOR INDIA Vs ENGLAND TEST SERIES 🚨 pic.twitter.com/sSW6yf0h9x

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 14, 2025

This English commentary panel showcases a rich diversity and includes some very highly renowned names who have an accomplished track record in the field of commentary. While the likes of Siddhu and Shastri can add a punch of humor and keep the viewers entertained with their commentary, someone like Atherton and Nasser can bring the game to life by delving into the deep intricacies of the game. On the other hand, DK and Broad are the youngest members in the commentary panel. Although after formally retiring from all formats now, both DK and Broad will be in a much better position to relate to the current happenings on the field of play in a very meaningful way, since they played the game professionally not so long ago, unlike other commentators. 

Former England cricket captain Michael Atherton did not hold back while talking about Jacob Bethell’s absence from England’s Test squad for the match against Zimbabwe. The young all-rounder was busy playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025, and Atherton was not happy about it. Jacob Bethell became the main talking point because he was not available for the Test series against Zimbabwe. He was playing for RCB in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which clashed with the Test schedule.

Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain talked about Jacob Bethell not being in England’s Test team for the Zimbabwe series. Bethell did not play the Test match because he was busy in IPL 2025 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Before the second ODI between England and West Indies, Atherton spoke on Sky Sports. He joked about Hussain, who had earlier said that Bethell was learning a lot in IPL by being around a big player like Virat Kohli.

Also Read - IPL 2025: 3 reasons why PBKS deserve to be the winners in Qualifier 2

But Atherton did not agree. He said national duty is more important, especially for players who have central contracts with England.

“I said this three podcasts ago when we were talking about the Zimbabwe Test. I said, bring Bethell back from IPL. It’s an international match. He is a centrally contracted player. I am not saying this now just because things changed. I said the same thing before too,” Atherton said.

He also said:

“You will support him staying in IPL because you have many fans in India. You say he is learning from Kohli and having breakfast with him. That’s fine. But when it’s time to play for your country, you must come back and play.”

Bethell’s IPL Journey

Jacob Bethell got to play in IPL because RCB’s regular opener Phil Salt was sick. Bethell opened the innings with Kohli and played two matches. Jacob Bethell got to play in IPL because RCB’s regular opener Phil Salt was sick. Bethell opened the innings with Kohli and played two matches. Before the IPL playoffs, Bethell left India and joined the England team. He is now playing in the white-ball series against the West Indies.

Indian cricket sensation Rohit Sharma recently declared his retirement from Test cricket, eliciting mixed reactions from fans and pundits alike. His announcement, made public through Instagram on May 7, came on the eve of the announcement of India's team for the much-awaited Test series against England. While Rohit thanked supporters for their support and referred to it as an honor to play for India in whites, many, including former England skipper Michael Atherton, think there could have been more to the tale than a mere farewell.

Atherton, on Sky Sports, raised questions about whether Rohit's retirement was totally voluntary or whether he was feeling pressure from the selectors. A report on the day before had intimated that the selectors were thinking of moving away from Rohit, maybe even triggering his announcement. With India's recent failure in Test cricket under his leadership—six defeats in the previous eight matches—such a shift would not be unexpected. This featured a historic 0-3 whitewash at home to New Zealand and a 1-3 loss in Australia, where Rohit himself managed only 31 runs in three games.

Atherton added that the mix of below-par personal performances and team returns usually signals the end for captains. Rohit, who was 38 at the time, was beset by tremendous competition from India's younger talent base. His issues with the bat and increasing scrutiny made it increasingly hard to see him fit in the red-ball team, especially with the World Test Championship Final spot slipping through India's hands.

#cricketwitter

Michael Atherton speculates on Rohit Sharma’s Test career: ‘Was his retirement entirely his own choice, or did he have a sense that he was about to be pushed out?’https://t.co/rggHRYdj9Z

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) May 10, 2025

Also read: "I’m done" Virat Kohli’s repeated words spark retirement rumours

Who Will Rule India Next?

Rohit's departure will see the BCCI announcing a new Test captain in the near future, and the probable choice is present vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, although his workload would need to be monitored. Shubman Gill, at 25, can be regarded as a leader in the making and may be fast-tracked considering his maturity level and current performances.

Atherton admired Rohit's ODI success but described his Test career as "a tale of two halves." Although he scored more than 3,600 runs and 12 hundreds, his red-ball career never reached the standards of his white-ball career. Yet his contribution to Indian cricket cannot be disputed, and the weeks ahead will be instrumental in setting up the next chapter in India's Test journey.

Former England skipper Michael Atherton has come down heavily on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for dropping Jacob Bethell from the team for the coming one-off Test against Zimbabwe. Bethell, who impressed at England's No. 3 in their recent red-ball series against New Zealand, was not included in the team to continue his stay in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The 20-year-old posted 52.00 from three tests in New Zealand in trying conditions to win acclaim and a promotion from an incremental to a full central contract. Though he has red-ball potential and form, the ECB decided to let Bethell stay in the IPL, where he recently became the youngest overseas player to make a fifty. Atherton, on Sky Sports, condemned the move, arguing that a central contract should enable the board to call up a player when international obligation beckons.

"My own belief is that Bethell could and should have been selected," Atherton opined. "That is the purpose of a central contract — you get to control your players. It's an international match, and that must come before any domestic competition."

Also read: BCCI set to announce new Test captain ahead of England series

A Selection Dilemma Avoided, But at What Cost?

Atherton further noted that Bethell’s absence might have conveniently spared the selectors a tough decision. With Jamie Smith returning, there was likely going to be a toss-up between Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope — both of whom have been underwhelming in red-ball cricket recently. Had Bethell been available, the management would have faced the challenge of leaving one of them out.

“Bethell looked the part in New Zealand,” Atherton added. “His absence removes the tricky decision — and they might be happy not to make that call yet.”

The ECB’s policy of allowing contracted players to fulfill IPL commitments has once again sparked debate about the balance between franchise leagues and international cricket.

England Squad for Zimbabwe Test:

Ben Stokes (cap.), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Sam Cook, James Rew, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wkt.), and Josh Tongue.

Future Cricket Stars: The Next Fab Four Revealed by Former England Captain

Former England Players , named Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, think that Yashasvi Jaiswal from India is very good at cricket. They both picked him and Harry Brook from England to be part of the new 'Fab Four.' The 'Fab Four' is a name that was first used by someone named Martin Crowe in 2013. Mister Crowe used it to note the four amazing cricket players: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson.

They were the best in all kinds of cricket games. But now, cricket is changing, and Hussain and Atherton chose different players they believe will be the new stars. Hussain and Atherton made sure it was safe by each putting a helmet on each head when they chose Jaiswal to be in charge of the game later. Hussain thinks Saim Ayub from Pakistan might be a very good hitter at the beginning of the game. He picked him because he believes Saim can play well in any kind of cricket match, whether it's a quick match or a long match. Even though Saim was injured and people weren't sure if he could play in the important trophy game, Hussain is still sure he can do well.

Nasser Hussain picks Saim Ayub, Harry Brook, Travis Head, and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the next 'Fab Four' of cricket 🌟 pic.twitter.com/q06Cf2SKTO

— CricWick (@CricWick) January 17, 2025

Nasser Hussain's Fab Four:

      1.Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)

      2.Harry Brook (England)

      3.Travis Head (Australia)

      4.Saim Ayub (Pakistan)

ALSO READ: Ashwin lauds Gill's vice-captaincy appointment ahead of CT 2025

Michael Atherton's Fab Four:

     1.Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)

     2.Harry Brook (England)

     3.Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)

     4.Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)

Atherton, on the other hand, leaned towards consistency and versatility, selecting Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis and New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra. Ravindra, in particular, stood out after leading New Zealand to an improbable Test series win in India in late 2024 and amassing 1,079 runs in the calendar year. The six players identified by Hussain and Atherton delivered exceptional performances in 2024, finishing among the top run scorers across formats.The selections by Hussain and Atherton offer an exciting glimpse into cricket's future, highlighting the next generation of global stars. Whether it be Jaiswal's consistency, Brook's explosive batting, or the emerging talents of Ayub, Mendis, Head, and Ravindra, the future of cricket looks promising with these young players at the forefront.

After Ben Stokes and Company defeated Pakistan in a match that set a new record on the opening day in Rawalpindi, the former captain of England paid special attention to Virender Sehwag in his massive statement. Let’s be truthful. Fans of Team India were reminded of Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid’s batting vigils against Pakistan in the early 2000s by England’s defeat of Baba Azam and Co. on the opening day of the run-heavy Rawalpindi Test match. 

Former England skipper Michael Atherton also took a trip down the memory lane by giving a special mention to legendary Indian opener Sehwag after the Ben Stokes-led side created a world record on Thursday against hosts Pakistan. England broke with its long-standing tradition of playing red-ball cricket in the second ICC World Test Championship and set a new world record in their 17-year absence from the Asian nation. 

On Day 1 of the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, England, led by Stokes, posted a record-breaking score of 506-4.

On Thursday, the Three Lions had as many as four batters score centuries. During the historic Test match between the T20 World Cup 2022 finalists, former England captain Atherton praised openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley for their efforts.

“I think it was England’s most dominant opening two hours of a Test match. That’s a sign of an era that is changing rather than the specifics. I haven’t seen anything more dominant from England. I am thinking back to the really aggressive openers that I’ve seen down the years. Virender Sehwag. I’ve seen him play incredible innings at the top of the order. Mathew Hayden and so they certainly have been dominant openers before,”

Atherton said.

At Multan, Sehwag, a former captain of India, became India’s first triple-centurion in Test cricket. Sehwag and Dravid put together an unforgettable 410-run partnership against Pakistan in 2006 following his heroics in 2004. On Thursday, Britain openers Crawley (122) and Duckett (107) established the groundwork for a record-breaking total with a 233-run stand against Pakistan at Rawalpindi.

ALSO READ: England Surprise with Selection and Performance as Bazball Continues to Impress

“These conditions allowed Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley to express themselves to the fullest really, and they both played superbly. Pakistan ran the back foot right from the outset. 500 is still hard to believe,”

Atherton added.

Michael Atherton believes England faces a “50-50 call” between Saqib Mahmood and Craig Overton for the final spot in the bowling attack in the third Test against India. Mark Wood’s shoulder injury has ruled him out of the game which starts at Emerald Headingley on Wednesday, with Lancashire quick Mahmood and Somerset seamer Overton seemingly vying to replace him as England look to level the five-match series at 1-1 after losing the second Test at Lord’s.

England headed into the fifth day at Lord’s as favorites to take a 1-0 lead in the series but was then rocked by an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 89 between India tailenders Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah before they were skittled in 51.5 overs having been set 272 to win in 60 overs.

“For some time England has been building up these pace reserves and at one point you had Jofra Archer, Olly Stone, and Wood. “Now you have none of those, although it looks like Wood’s injury is not too serious so let’s hope he is back for the fourth Test at The Kia Oval from September 2.” England has tinkered with a batting line-up rolled for 120 on the final day of the second Test, with the recalled Dawid Malan to bat at No 3 and Haseeb Hameed to open alongside Rory Burns following the dropping of Dom Sibley in both innings.

Must Read: Dawid Malan admits England Test axing stung as he gears up for return vs India.

Middle order can be stablize by Malan and bowling unit by Mahmood for england: Atherton

Malan, 33, scored 724 runs in 15 Tests between July 2017 and August 2018, including an Ashes century in Perth, at an average just below 28. The left-hander has played just one first-class inning so far this season – but that was a score of 199 for Yorkshire against Sussex at Headingley.

Former England captain Atherton said: “I think they may go Overton but I think I would probably go Mahmood. “Overton offers a bit with the bat and is a good slip fielder while Mahmood looked good in that one-day series to win over Pakistan so it’s kind of a 50-50 call. “You could also pick Mahmood and then have the choice between Sam Curran and Overton as all-rounders. Michael Atherton would pick Saqib Mahmood for the third Test against India after seamer impressed in ODI series win over Pakistan; former England captain says Dawid Malan’s recall is “sensible” and gives hosts experience

Atherton said. “I think Malan is a sensible pick. He is a pretty experienced guy who knows his game. “He has had moderate success in his 15 Tests but has scored a Test hundred in Australia, which marks you out as a pretty decent player. “He is a tough nut and I think [captain Joe] Root just wants someone who is a bit more experienced. “It would have been difficult to pluck a young kid out of the county game given we have had no first-class cricket for the last six weeks or so.”

Atherton says that result will “bruise” England and that the continued absence of some key players has weakened their side – but believes they can still battle back in the series. “England were bruised after Lord’s but if you look back at the two games we have had so far, they have been very competitive,” said the Cricketing expert.

“Who knows which way the first Test would have gone if not for the rain and for long periods of the Lord’s Test they were in control. They will have some confidence but it will take some coming back from after that heavy defeat “They are missing Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Archer, Wood, Stuart Broad – all guys that are first-choice or there and thereabouts so it’s a weakened England side