Former English batting legend Geoffrey Boycott has asserted that India will feel the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming five-match Test series against England which is slated to get underway from June 20. Boycott believes the recent and concurrent retirements of these two senior players from the longest format of the game are set to 'hurt' the Indian team, which is currently in a transitional phase, as they prepare to face England on their home turf.
Geoffrey Boycott on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma absence in England tour
But as per Geoffrey India will miss Virat Kohli more than Rohit Sharma. In his assessment, the dual blow of losing the senior duo will undoubtedly weaken the Indian side. However, Boycott has singled out Kohli's departure as the more substantial loss. He emphasised that Kohli's prolific run-scoring and his influential presence have been central to India's identity and success in Test cricket for a considerable period. Expanding on the impact of their retirements, Boycott noted that the void left by these two stalwarts presents a significant challenge for the Indian team's prospects in the upcoming series. The absence of their collective experience and skill at the highest level, particularly in the demanding English conditions, will be a critical factor. For a team already navigating a period of change, the simultaneous exit of two of its most accomplished batsmen complicates the path forward and places greater pressure on the emerging generation of players to perform.
"The retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma hurts the chances of India beating England. Kohli is the biggest loss as he has been their best batsman and talisman in all three formats. With so much international cricket played by India, and so little rest, it takes its toll and the mind becomes fatigued. It does not matter how much talent or experience you have, if you are not mentally fresh and up for the challenge then it becomes draining," Boycott wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph.
"Rohit was a superb batsman. At his best, a beautiful stroke player, but he won't be missed as much as Kohli because his Test record was good rather than exceptional. In the last couple of years his batting was a little inconsistent, which was not surprising in his late 30s. Rohit was never a natural athlete like Kohli and he knows that opening the innings in England can be pretty tough because the new ball moves around more. You really have to be up for the challenge to have any chance of success. I just think that over time the wear and tear of opening the innings and being captain in all three formats wore him down," Boycott added.
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The Indian team has not secured a Test series victory on English soil since their memorable triumph in 2007. This long gap proves the challenges Indian sides have traditionally faced in adapting to the English conditions. In contrast, the host nation, England, will enter the series with a recent victory under their belts, having defeated Zimbabwe in a one-off Test at Trent Bridge just last month, suggesting they are in competitive form.
Despite the setback to India's batting lineup caused by the absence of stalwarts, former England captain Geoffrey Boycott has issued a word of caution to the home side. He advised England against any sense of complacency, emphasising that underestimating the Indian team would be a mistake. While acknowledging that the departure of Kohli and Rohit has undoubtedly weakened the visitors' batting strength, Boycott stressed that India still possesses formidable talent capable of posing a serious threat. His warning implies that England must remain vigilant and focused to capitalize on their advantage.
"It's Bazball or Bazball and that is the way we play; take it or leave it. They don't want to change or learn from their losses. It doesn't seem to make any difference that so many top class ex-England Test players keep telling them to moderate their batting. So please, get your act together, bring your best game and apply some cricket nous," Boycott signed off.
India's Test squad for England tour:
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav
England squad for first Test against India:
Ben Stokes (Captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes