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Sunil Chhetri revealed that Virat Kohli shared his fitness test scores from London. Recently, reports claimed that Kohli underwent his pre-season mandatory fitness test in London, unlike other players who gave it at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Shreyas Iyer will captain the 15-member India A squad against Australia A in Lucknow, with Dhruv Jurel as vice-captain. The series starts September 16. KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj will join the squad for the second match beginning September 23.

Jasprit Bumrah thrives on challenges. He is a non-conformist. He has always chosen the unconventional route. While most athletes are swayed by the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry, his inspiration comes from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a monster in his own right. During Covid-19, in an Instagram Live with Rohit Sharma, Bumrah had said: "I love Ibra. I can relate to his story that people did not take him seriously and then he became a star. I can relate as I think people took me lightly initially and then I proved them wrong, I am still trying."

Bharat Arun suggests Jasprit Bumrah should prioritize Test series over the Indian Premier League. Arun feels Bumrah should be adequately compensated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. He cites Cricket Australia's policy of resting key bowlers for important series. Arun praises Mohammed Siraj's consistent high energy and intensity.

Arshdeep Singh, after an unfortunate injury during the England Test series, showcased his readiness in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal. Despite not playing, he utilised his time in England to hone his skills, focusing on strength and conditioning.

Manoj Tiwary, former Indian cricketer, suggests the newly introduced Bronco Test in Indian cricket might be a strategy to exclude Rohit Sharma from the team, especially with the 2027 World Cup on the horizon. He questions the timing of this endurance-focused test, contrasting it with previous instances where fitness benchmarks seemingly sidelined senior players like Gambhir and Sehwag.

Mohammed Siraj's stamina and leadership were vital for India's pace attack in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, earning praise from Akash Deep. Despite Jasprit Bumrah's absence, Siraj consistently delivered long spells, contributing significantly to the 2-2 result. Akash Deep also made a mark with a crucial 66 at The Oval and 13 wickets in three Tests, highlighting his all-round performance.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their first IPL title in 2025, marking a new era after a mega auction. Strategic signings like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bolstered their squad, leading to Mohammed Siraj's departure. Director Mo Bobat highlighted the tough decision to release Siraj, prioritizing Bhuvneshwar's versatility.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali expressed shock over the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami from India's Asia Cup squad. Ali believes Iyer's omission is particularly unjust, stating that in Pakistan, these players would be top-tier.

Mohammed Kaif has strongly supported Jasprit Bumrah's T20I return, dismissing fitness concerns raised during the England Test series. Kaif highlighted Bumrah's match-winning ability across formats and suggested white-ball cricket suits him better due to a manageable workload. He also expressed disappointment over Mohammed Siraj's Asia Cup exclusion, praising his form and wicket-taking ability.

Jasprit Bumrah's return to training has boosted India's bowling preparations for the Edgbaston Test after their Headingley defeat. Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj bowled in the nets, injecting intensity into the team's practice. While Bumrah's inclusion remains uncertain due to workload management, his presence offers hope as Team India aims to level the series.