As India prepares to face England in a five-match Test series beginning June 20, former England captain Geoffrey Boycott has stirred the cricketing world with his candid assessment: India will miss Virat Kohli more than Rohit Sharma.
Writing in his column for The Daily Telegraph, Boycott reflected on the recent retirement of both Indian stalwarts from Test cricket, calling Kohli’s departure a “bigger loss” for the team. “Kohli has been their best batsman and talisman in all three formats,” he wrote, adding that the mental fatigue from India’s relentless international schedule may have contributed to the duo stepping away.
While acknowledging Rohit’s class as a batsman, Boycott noted that his Test record was “good rather than exceptional,” and that his recent inconsistency, coupled with the physical toll of opening and captaining across formats, made his absence less impactful than Kohli’s.
India’s last Test series win in England came in 2007, and with Shubman Gill now leading a transitioning side, Boycott believes the road ahead will be challenging. He also urged England to temper their aggressive “Bazball” approach, warning that reckless batting has cost them matches in the past. “Being a winner is better than being known as an entertainer,” he emphasized.
The series marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle, and with both teams undergoing transitions, all eyes will be on how they adapt to the high-stakes contest.
