Former England batter Sir Geoffrey Boycott believes India won’t miss the services of their former captain Rohit Sharma as they would miss Virat Kohli on the England tour. While Rohit announced his Test retirement on May 7, Kohli called it a day on May 12, sending shocking waves in the cricketing world.
Kohli amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. In the last 69 Test innings since 2020, Kohli had managed only 2028 runs at an average of 30.72, including just three centuries.
On the other hand, Rohit played 67 Tests during an 11-year career, leading in 24 of them since taking over the reins of the team from Virat Kohli in 2022. He ends his career with a total of 4301 runs, including 12 centuries. Rohit was also struggling to score runs consistently and had managed only 31 runs in three Test matches against Australia.
Geoffrey Boycott wrote in his column for the 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. 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.”
“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.”
Meanwhile, England haven’t yet made it to the final of the World Test Championship in three cycles and Boycott said their aim should be to qualify for the summit clash.
“Their only thought should be winning because it is no use telling us how good you are when the last three World Test Championship finals have been played in our country but England have not qualified for any of them. They should be embarrassed. Their aim should be to make the next WTC final.”
India would take on England in the first Test at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.
