"All of us were thinking that we would miss Rohit a lot" - Aakash Chopra lauds Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul's partnership in ENG vs IND 2025 1st Test

Former India player Aakash Chopra has lauded Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul for stitching together an 'incredible' opening partnership in the first Test against England. He noted that the duo's efforts ensured that India didn't feel the absence of the retired Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Jaiswal and Rahul added 91 runs for the first wicket after Ben Stokes asked India to bat first in Leeds on Friday, June 20. The visitors ended Day 1 at 359/3, with Shubman Gill (127*) and Rishabh Pant (65*) at the crease.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener praised Jaiswal and Rahul for giving the visitors a solid start in Rohit and Kohli's absence.

"The headline should be the incredible opening start. KL Rahul was once again there with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and all of us were thinking that we would miss Rohit a lot. Rohit and Kohli, it felt a little odd as we were playing the first match, after so many years, where neither of them was there, but let's be very honest, you didn't miss them when the match started," he said (0:55).

Chopra pointed out that while Jaiswal played a responsible knock, Rahul was his usual self.

"Rahul was leaving deliveries outside the off-stump. Yashasvi zimmedaar (responsible) Jaiswal, I wish to keep a name like that for him, because he was playing cautiously this time, and Rahul, of course, plays like that only, although he adopted a slightly aggressive approach. The opening partnership decided that, unless you bottle it up completely, you will be in a good space," he observed.

Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 101 runs off 159 balls with the help of 16 fours and a six. KL Rahul's 78-ball 42 was studded with eight fours.

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"Some people might ask how he was played" - Aakash Chopra on Sai Sudharsan's failure in ENG vs IND 2025 1st Test

Sai Sudharsan was dismissed for a duck in India's first innings of the Leeds Test. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that some people might question Sai Sudharsan's selection after his failure.

"Rahul got out at the stroke of Lunch, and Sai Sudharsan also got out right after him. The way Sai Sudharsan got out, you feel it wasn't that good, as he played only four balls, and some people might ask how he was played, as he hadn't scored runs and his first-class average wasn't even 40," he said (2:00).

The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that an initial failure doesn't mean the youngster cannot have a glorious Test career.

"You need to take some gut calls as a selector, captain, and coach. So that call has been taken with Sai Sudharsan, and let's not judge the book by its cover. Of course, it's not a good start, but starting badly is no guarantee that the story won't be good, because there is a list of people who had a splendid Test career after not scoring runs in the first game. Getting out like that, it's not a great thing, but it happens," Chopra elaborated.

Sai Sudharsan was picked ahead of Abhimanyu Easwaran for the No. 3 position. The left-handed batter was slightly unfortunate to be caught behind down the leg side off Ben Stokes' bowling for a four-ball duck.