Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has expressed strong support for the Shubman Gill-led Indian Test team, asserting that the side has the resilience to bounce back and win the ongoing Test series in England, despite narrowly losing the third Test at Lord’s.
India trails 1-2 in the five-match series, with the fourth Test set to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester. In the third Test, India fell just 22 runs short while chasing 193, with commendable efforts from Ravindra Jadeja and the tailenders.
Speaking to ANI, Raina praised the team’s spirit and individual performances. “They have the sense of desire, perseverance, and determination. Gill will make his mark—not just as a batter but also as a captain. I think he’s done really well,” Raina said.
He also highlighted standout contributions from Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja, applauding their roles in what has been a hard-fought series.
Gill currently leads the run charts with 607 runs in six innings at an average of 101.16, including three centuries. Pant (425 runs), KL Rahul (375), Jadeja (327), and Jaiswal (233) have also made significant contributions with the bat. Among the bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have taken 13 and 12 wickets respectively, with two five-wicket hauls between them.
Raina also spoke about his participation in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), calling it a “very competitive” tournament. However, the India-Pakistan match in the WCL was recently cancelled following backlash over geopolitical concerns. Indian legends including Raina and Shikhar Dhawan had opted out of the fixture, citing national sentiment.
Dhawan posted an email on X stating his refusal to play Pakistan had been communicated on May 11. “Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota,” he wrote.
Tournament sponsor EaseMyTrip also reaffirmed its long-standing stance against associating with matches involving Pakistan, saying, “We proudly continue to support the India Champions… Bharat First. Always.”
The WCL 2025, sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is being held from July 18 to August 2 across Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds, showcasing cricket legends from across the globe.