Irfan Pathan says India won’t miss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on England tour

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan reckons India won’t miss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the England tour as the veteran duo’s performances have been missing in the last couple of years. 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.

Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “Everyone believes that the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will make a difference. But I believe that it will not make any difference in terms of performance. Their performances had been missing for the past year and a half.

“Both of them are big players, but the performances were not there. So if a new guy gives an average of 20-25, he has done the work of Kohli’s level, as he averaged 15 in the first innings in the recent past.”

Pathan said Rohit and Kohli’s experience and presence will be missed in the dressing room, and there will be more onus on the trio of Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah.

“However, their experience and presence in the dressing room will be missed. Now there will be more responsibility on Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul.”

Meanwhile, Pathan backed in-form Karun Nair to bat at number three in the five-match Test series against England.

“According to me, playing Karun Nair is a better option because he has played international cricket and looked in great form in First-Class cricket. Yes, Sai Sudharsan could be ahead when you consider the current form, but that was in white-ball cricket. Karun Nair has performed regularly in red-ball cricket.”

India would take on England in the first Test at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.