Recently retired England legend Stuart Broad shared his insights on the upcoming India tour of England for the five-match Test series scheduled for the 2025 English summer. Broad also speculated that this tour might be the last time ace Indian batter Virat Kohli graces English soil for Test matches.
Virat Kohli will be 36 years old when India embarks on the five-Test tour from June 20 to July 31, 2025. The star batter has previously toured England for Test series three times in his career (2014, 2018, and 2021-22). In those tours, Kohli has amassed 1,096 runs in 17 Tests, averaging 33.21 with two centuries and five fifties to his name.
As Kohli approaches his mid-thirties, the question of his retirement from Test cricket looms large. While he continues to be a vital asset to the Indian team, the physical demands of Test cricket can be challenging for players at this stage of their careers. Broad's suggestion that this might be Kohli's final Test tour in England adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming series.
Stuart Broad's on India's England Tour and Virat Kohli's future
Broad feels that the upcoming India tour of England could mark the end of Virat Kohli's illustrious Test cricket career. Broad highlighted the competitive nature of the series, and didn't forget to mention that both teams possess significant talent and depth.
While acknowledging that England might field a younger and less experienced side compared to India, Broad praised their skill and aggressive style of play. He suggested that the series could be a closely contested affair, with both teams having the potential to emerge victorious.
“This could be Virat’s last tour of England. They’ve got so much talent and so much depth and England are slightly more youthful and less experienced but have a huge amount of talent and play this front-foot style of cricket,” said Broad, at an event to support the launch of Inside Lord's, as quoted by Nottingham Post.
India tour of England is set to be a crucial part of the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The five-match Test series, beginning on June 20 in Leeds, is anticipated to be a highly competitive affair between two strong contenders. Stuart Broad, the recently retired England legend, predicted a potential 2-2 draw if the weather cooperates throughout the series.
Virat Kohli, the Indian batting maestro, has already retired from T20I cricket following India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. With three ICC white-ball trophies to his name, Kohli is now focused on winning the World Test Championship medal, the only major ICC title that eludes him.
The 38-year-old also reflected on the competitive nature of the 2021 Test series between India and England, particularly India's dramatic victory at Lord's. He praised Mohammed Siraj's outstanding bowling on the final day, highlighting the immense joy it brought to the Indian team, especially for Virat Kohli.
“Don’t underestimate how much it hurt England when India won at Lord’s (in 2021) and drew the series. It was an aggressive test match, Mohammed Siraj bowled fantastically well on the final day, a drier pitch and just getting that bit of movement," former England's star pacer further stated.
“It was an amazing, emotional Test match to watch, and I know how much that hurt the England dressing room. Equally, it was very joyous for India to come here - we saw the joy on Kohli’s face and how much that meant to him. I think it’s going to be an absolute crackerjack of a series,” he concluded.
