Latest news with #TestTeam
Auto Express
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
The Skoda Elroq is a great all-round EV and a worthy Car of the Year winner
Our annual celebration of the best new cars is one of our favourite times of the year. Once the ridiculous amount of hard work has been completed, the issue is off to press and everything uploaded to our website, that is…! Every year we seem to say the competition is hotter than ever, but that's only because it's true. In the final reckoning, there were five cars that could easily have claimed the ultimate accolade of 2025 Auto Express Car of the Year. Whatever you need your vehicle to do, we've exhaustively tested every model out there to put together a three-car shortlist for each category – so if you don't agree with our winner, there are a couple of other excellent options. Advertisement - Article continues below Our winners are – in the opinion of our test team, which has decades of experience behind it – the best in their class. But we know that in any given sector of the market, buyers have very different requirements around brand, pricing and appeal of different models. So you won't always agree with our king of the castle. But every one of the cars across our New Car Awards extravaganza is bloomin' brilliant. From city cars to supercars, we love them all, and the conversations about the winners were always enthusiastic and animated, no matter what sort of model we were discussing. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Some categories have been retained by our 2024 winners, but the car world moves fast and we have a lot of new models that have come straight in at the top of the class. As if to highlight the strength in depth across the car industry, we have no fewer than 17 different brands with their name on a winner's trophy, and 25 different marques were commended across the categories. There are very few dominant brands; a couple collected four or five awards each, but there are particular high points in most manufacturers' model ranges, and we've picked them out, along with our choice of the sweet spot in the line-up for each of the winning cars. So enjoy our walk-through of the very best in the business, culminating in the Skoda Elroq winning our 2025 Auto Express Car of the Year. We think it's a very worthy winner, highly recommendable and an all-round great new arrival. Because that's the point of the Auto Express New Car Awards. Configure your perfect Skoda Elroq through our Find A Car service now. Alternatively, check out the best deals out there on a new Skoda Elroq from stock or top prices on used Skoda Elroq models... Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It's our Deal of the Day for 29 June Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 From poor electric car sales to crashes in F1, Mike Rutherford thinks its been a crazy few weeks in the automotive world New 2026 Honda 0 SUV: Japanese brand to finally have an EV to rival Tesla and BYD New 2026 Honda 0 SUV: Japanese brand to finally have an EV to rival Tesla and BYD Honda EV plans are gathering momentum, and they'll be realised in the groundbreaking 0 SUV next year
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Shreyas Iyer would have never made India Test squad in England, says Aakash Chopra: ‘Even Sarfaraz, Jurel are sitting out'
Despite his impressive run on the domestic circuit and India's ODI set-up this year, Mumbai batter Shreyas Iyer would not have made the Test squad in England in any scenario, said former India opener Aakash Chopra. There were questions raised over Iyer's exclusion from India's extensive 18-member squad announced in May, and the situation sparked more questions about the 30-year-old's red-ball future at the international level. Iyer was in blistering form in the IPL, leading Punjab Kings to a runners-up finish with his best season with the bat, scoring 604 runs at a 50-plus average and a staggering 175.07 strike rate with 39 sixes. Iyer also had a productive Ranji Trophy season besides leading Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win in December 2024. In nine First Class matches, including an Irani Cup triumph, Iyer aggregated 699 runs with two centuries and three fifties. However, that would not be enough to make a comeback to the Test squad for Iyer, who last represented India during the 2024 home series against England. Chopra noted how even Iyer's Mumbai teammate Sarfaraz Khan who is ahead in the pecking order missed out on a berth in England, insisting that the former must patiently wait for his second wind. Save for the returning Karun Nair, debutant Sai Sudharsan and a wobbly lower-order, India's front-line batters all came to the fore during the Headingley Test. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant (2), KL Rahul, skipper Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal all struck centuries, making it the first time India tallied five centuries in a Test. 'There is no problem with the batting as such. But he has to wait for his chances; he won't get a chance straightaway right now. He would've never made it to the squad for the England tour. The remaining ones also haven't had their chance,' Chopra said on his YouTube channel. 'If you think about it, Karun Nair has played just now. Sarfaraz Khan is not being given the chances. Dhruv Jurel is sitting outside. The players who are already there, if they aren't only getting the chances, then how can Shreyas Iyer get a look in?' he added. 'I know he had a good first-class season. He had a good IPL, took Punjab Kings to the final. He did well in white-ball cricket, but his time will come. He will have to wait just a little bit,' said Chopra. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had reasoned that there was no room currently for Iyer in the scheme of things despite his solid form at the domestic level. 'Yes, Shreyas Iyer has played well in domestic cricket, but at the moment, there is no room for him on the Test Team,' he said while speaking to reporters in Mumbai when announcing the Test squad in late May.
India.com
07-06-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Gautam Gambhir makes new claim on Shreyas Iyer's Test omission, says 'it's always about...'
Shreyas Iyer. New Delhi: Several important players were not included in India's 18-member squad for the five-Test tour in England starting from June 20. It's especially important to mention that Shreyas Iyer is not in the squad even after his impressive ODI and T20 form lately. Initially mum, Gautam Gambhir mentioned later that players who keep scoring will still be considered. 'Anyone can be called if they are in good form. We can only pick 18. But I believe it's always about being open to people who are in good form and can deliver,' Gambhir told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday. Earlier, when Gambhir was asked about Shreyas' omission, Gambhir said, 'I'm not the selector'. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar commented on Shreyas Iyer during the team announcement: 'Yes, Shreyas Iyer has played well in domestic cricket, but at the moment, there is no room for him in the Test Team.' During the 2025 season, Shreyas Iyer delivered great performances and became India's top scorer for the Champions Trophy win. Iyer's show for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 lived up to the expectations set by his big contract. He helped his team reach the final and was their best run-scorer, finishing with 604 runs in 17 games at a great strike rate of 175. As given by the BCCI and ECB, the series will now be known as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, paying homage to Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson.
NDTV
06-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
On Shreyas Iyer' Test Omission, Gautam Gambhir Makes Fresh Claim: "Always About..."
India have announced an 18-member squad for the five-match Test series against England, starting from June 20. A few high-profile names missed out on the squad, with batter Shreyas Iyer arguably being the most notable one. Shreyas has been in a rich vein of form, performing exceedingly well in both ODI and T20 cricket of late. Speaking on his omission, Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir had initially stated that he wasn't the selector. However, now Gambhir has said that the doors are open for good performers. "Anyone can be called if they are in good form. We can only pick 18. But I believe it's always about being open to people who are in good form and can deliver," Gambhir told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday. Earlier, when asked about Shreyas not being picked, Gambhir had responded saying "I'm not the selector". On the other hand, here's what BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had said on Shreyas Iyer at the squad announcement: "Yes, Shreyas Iyer has played well in domestic cricket, but at the moment, there is no room for him in the Test Team." Shreyas Iyer has enjoyed a superb 2025 so far. The 30-year-old was India's top run-scorer as the nation won the Champions Trophy 2025. Following that, Iyer lived up to the expectations of a Rs 26.75 crore Indian Premier League (IPL) contract, taking Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the IPL 2025 final. Shreyas was also the franchise's top run-scorer, smashing 604 runs in 17 matches at an astonishing strike rate of 175. Cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson will now have a special place in the India-England Test rivalry, as the two boards, BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) have decided to name the Test series between the two countries the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, as per ESPNcricinfo. The new trophy will be officially unveiled by Tendulkar and Anderson at Lord's during the World Test Championship (WTC) final, which begins on June 11. This change comes just ahead of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, with India and England set to play a five-match Test series starting June 20 at Headingley in Leeds. Previously, the Test series in England was known as the Pataudi Trophy, named after former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. When the series was played in India, it was called the Anthony de Mello Trophy, in honour of one of the BCCI's founding members and its first secretary and president.
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Shreyas Iyer has 'got real hunger in his eyes' to prove Ajit Agarkar wrong: 'I was actually gutted, but he...'
Shreyas Iyer was among the notable exclusions from the Indian Test team that was picked earlier last month for the upcoming tour of England, but Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting felt the snub left the in-form batter more determined to prove the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee wrong. Ponting's comment came after Iyer became the second captain in history to take Punjab to the IPL final, with the franchise staring at the possibility of ending their long-standing title drought. Speaking on The ICC Review last week, the former Australia captain admitted that he was gutted not to see Iyer in the Indian Test team but revealed that the India star has accepted the disappointment and moved on from it, to help Punjab win their maiden IPL title. "I actually was gutted…but he's accepted that really well and he's moved on," Ponting said. "He's just got that real hunger in his eyes to do well every time that he plays for us here and wants to win games of cricket and wants to evolve and develop into the best leader and captain that he can be." Ponting felt that Iyer's strong performance in the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year, where he became India's leading run-getter and second-highest overall, and an impressive outing in the domestic red-ball season were enough for him to crack into the Indian team. "Certain other players that have been picked in that (Test) squad have done it on the back of good first-class cricket and good IPL seasons leading up to that selection and Shreyas has done absolutely everything the same as some of those other players," Ponting noted. "So I was disappointed that he didn't get picked as I actually felt that he would get picked. But he didn't. And I think that probably makes him a little bit hungrier for us when these playoff games come around." And, probably it did put Iyer in reckoning for a return to the Test side for the first time since January 2024, when he was dropped midway through the home series against England. However, Agarkar revealed that right now there was no room for him in the 18-man squad. "Yes, Shreyas Iyer has played well in domestic cricket, but at the moment, there is no room for him on the Test Team," Agarkar said in the presser in Mumbai last month after announcing the Test squad. Iyer will be seen in action on Tuesday, in the IPL 2025 final against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad.
