India have finally arrived in Leeds, the venue for the first Test of what promises to be a long and gruelling tour stretching until the first week of August. With stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket, this is a team in transition—young, eager, and full of energy. The average age of the squad is just 25, and that youthful vibe was on full display during their train journey from London to Leeds.
WATCH: Heartwarming travel vlog by BCCI
In a light-hearted video posted by the BCCI, the players were seen leaving their London hotel with coffee in hand, obliging selfie requests from fans, and sharing childhood stories of train rides back home. Dhruv Jurel recalled travelling through the hills of Himachal as a kid, always clutching the window seat.
Sai Sudharsan spoke of catching trains to U-12 and U-14 camps in Chepauk. All-rounder Washington Sundar, meanwhile, got teased by someone behind the camera with, “Baal theek karo halka sa, ek haath se. Aa gaya shot aa gaya” (Fix your hair a little with one hand. Yes, we got the shot),” just as he posed for a quick snap.
Shardul Thakur, back in the squad, shared how he used to take local trains in Mumbai to reach practice. “It’s not this easy,” he laughed. “But today, I’m enjoying the peace of a proper seat!”
Once in Leeds, the squad embraced the downtime. KL Rahul, Karun Nair, and Yashasvi Jaiswal grabbed coffee before a round of golf. Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj went for a calming walk, while bowling coach Morne Morkel, who was busy clicking photos of KL on the train, joined chief selector Ajit Agarkar on the golf course. The first Test begins on June 20, but for now, Team India is soaking in the calm before the red-ball storm.
