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.

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.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes that relying solely on pace won’t be enough for England to make history in the upcoming Ashes series in Australia. The next Ashes series, scheduled for the end of 2025, is already prompting England to prepare a competitive team for the historic challenge.

Ahead of the first Test against the West Indies, England captain Ben Stokes emphasized that the team is building with the future Ashes series in mind. England last secured the Ashes in 2015 with a thrilling 3-2 victory at home, but Australia has retained the trophy since then.

In Ashes series played in Australia, the home team has shown formidable dominance. England has not won a Test match in Australia since 2011, with recent series results being particularly disheartening: 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0 losses in their last three visits.

“Pace Isn’t Everything”, warns Nasser Hussain ahead of Ashes 2025

In his column for the Daily Mail, Hussain cautioned England that having sheer pace alone won’t be enough; skill must complement speed. He identified Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood as the two bowlers certain to make the trip to Australia.

“Pace alone isn’t enough,” Hussain wrote in his column. “If you go to Australia and just bowl fast without control, you’ll be easily taken apart. The key to success down under is a blend of pace and skill, as Gus Atkinson demonstrated in the first match of the series and Mark Wood showed here, even though he didn’t get the wickets he deserved. England can’t afford to rely on the same old strategies. It’s crucial to find solutions beforehand.”

“Pace alone isn’t enough. If you go to Australia and just rely on speed, you’ll end up all over the place. The key is combining pace with skill, as Gus Atkinson demonstrated in the first match of the series and as Mark Wood, despite not getting the wickets he deserved, showed here. England can’t afford to arrive in Australia with the same old approach; they need to find a solution in advance,” Hussain wrote in his column.

Gus Atkinson recently impressed in James Anderson’s farewell Test at Lord’s, where he claimed 12 wickets on his debut and was named Player of the Match. Meanwhile, Mark Wood delivered a spectacular spell in the second Test but was unlucky not to secure any wickets. Both Atkinson and Wood, known for their high pace, could be crucial on the fast and bouncy pitches in Australia.

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Nasser Hussain commends Shoaib Bashir

Nasser Hussain also praised Shoaib Bashir for his outstanding off-spin performance on Day 4 of the Test.England’s choice of Shoaib Bashir reflects their strategy of balancing immediate needs with future prospects. Since Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006, no spinner had taken a five-for in a Test at Nottingham. Bashir earned his accolades by demonstrating key qualities of an off-spinner—he extracted a beautiful drop on the ball to dismiss Alick Athanaze and bowled Jason Holder with a stunning delivery.

This performance will benefit him and the entire England bowling attack.England won the second Test against the West Indies by a commanding 241 runs. Despite West Indies initially taking a first-innings lead, England’s aggressive Bazball approach in their third innings allowed them to set a formidable target.

Chasing 385 for victory in the fourth innings, the West Indies faltered and were dismissed for just 143 runs. Shoaib Bashir took 5 wickets for England, while Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson each claimed 2 wickets.

India aims to end their global title drought, while South Africa seeks to shed their ‘chokers’ tag. Both unbeaten teams will clash in the final at Kensington Oval.

Their flawless campaigns and dominant semi-final wins prove that the two best teams have reached the final in Bridgetown.

The day after South Africa halted Afghanistan’s fairytale run in Trinidad, India defeated England in Guyana to reach their third consecutive global final across all formats.

SA vs IND Final : Pitch Report

“Interesting looking surface. It’s been that way all tournament. They’ve done a fair bit of rolling, but there’s no live grass to hold it together. It’s fairly hard to start with so I’m hoping the ball comes onto the bat quite nicely.” By Ian Bishop

Hope the weather Gods are shining on us. There is a 30% chance of rain and a strong wind blowing towards fine leg for the left hander and that’s the shortest boundary at 56m. Don’t be surprised if Quinton de Kock targets that boundary or Suryakumar Yadav tries to open up his body. It is a central pitch so fairly even boundaries on all sides. Interesting looking surface, it is hard but there is no live grass. By Ian Bishop & Nasser Hussain

This is a fair pitch which might not have the bounce of St Lucia or the low bounce of Guyana, says he hopes there is even pace and bounce, which is all everyone wants. Nasser added

SA vs IND Final: Update

Team India has formed a huddle. Rohit Sharma is giving a pep talk to his team. We are few moments away from the toss. The big game is coming coming. The anticipation is high.

The Sun is beating down at the moment in Barbados. The good news is that there is no sign of rain.

SEE ALSO: [WATCH]: T20 World Cup 2024 Final, South Africa vs India – Rohit Sharma earns major praise from South Africa players

This is the ninth year that India has not won an ICC title.MS Dhoni was still captain when the Indian cricket team won an ICC event at the 2013 Champions Trophy. All of India’s cricket fans would hope for a change of fortune as the team led by Rohit Sharma prepares for the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.

However, India’s preparations for the event have been marred by injuries.

According to a PTI report, standby pacer Deepak Chahar will also be unable to play in the T20 World Cup due to injury. Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah have been ruled out due to injuries.

In a podcast on Sky Sports, former England captain Nasser Hussain stated that India must break out of their shell if they are to succeed in ICC competitions.

“India’s issues have been ICC events really. They have been going around beating everyone, with a variety of players, they have rotated and rested. They have hugely experienced cricketers from the IPL and high-class T20 cricketers. But they played some timid cricket in world events, almost gone into their shell. There is a different mindset from a bilateral to a World Cup. They definitely played some fearful cricket in the last World Cup, especially in the power plays. They have got to keep that hitting potential from Rohit, Rahul. Suryakumar Yadav has been in unbelievable form. They are missing two great cricketers in Bumrah and Jadeja. Got to keep the same mindset that they have shown in the bilaterals in the last year or so.”

said the former English skipper on Sky Sports.

ALSO READ: AUS vs ENG, T20I: ENG wins by 8 runs!

India will start their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Melbourne on October 23.