The Gossip

India will witness a new middle-order partnership in the initial two Test matches against England due to the absence of Virat Kohli. This presents a significant chance for players like Shreyas Iyer and KS Bharat to establish themselves in this role.

The absence of Virat Kohli in the first two Test matches against England will result in a fresh middle-order combination for India. All attention will be focused on players like Shreyas Iyer and KS Bharat as they step up in the Test format. It is a challenging situation for India to play without the services of the experienced Virat Kohli, especially on the turning tracks where matches have concluded quickly in recent times. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has confirmed that Kohli has taken leave for personal reasons, and they have requested everyone to respect his privacy and not inquire further.

It is excellent news for the English team that Virat Kohli will not be participating in the initial two matches. They have arrived in the subcontinent with their new and aggressive approach called ‘Bazball’. India has encountered Bazball only once before, during the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah in 2022. Unfortunately, in that ‘rescheduled’ Test match from the 2021 series, India faced defeat.

Bazball can be seen as synonymous with Virat Kohli himself. He exudes immense energy throughout a Test match, displays aggression in the face of the opposition, and possesses the capability to handle pressure and overcome challenging periods.

Virat Kohli truly embodies the essence of Bazball.

In fact, Sunil Gavaskar, a former Indian cricketer, compared Virat Kohli to the entire English philosophy, stating that while England may have Bazball, India has Viratball. Gavaskar emphasized that Kohli’s ability to convert his fifties into hundreds will play a crucial role in India’s triumph over England.

With Virat Kohli absent from the team, India will need to make adjustments to their batting order. It is likely that Shreyas Iyer will take the number 4 spot, followed by KL Rahul at 5 and either KS Bharat or Dhruv Jurel at 6.

This new middle order looks considerably younger compared to the line-up India had in the World Test Championship Final 2023, which consisted of Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ravindra Jadeja.

The absence of Kohli and Rahane presents a significant opportunity for the young Indian players to prove themselves and secure a place in the national team. This is something that fans have been eagerly waiting for over the past two years.

Cricket enthusiasts in India have been vocal about their desire to see Sarfaraz Khan, KS Bharat, and Abhimanyu Easwaran included in the line-up. And now, perhaps, the time has finally arrived for them to showcase their talent.

During the pre-match press conference before the first Test match, India captain Rohit Sharma addressed the issue of young players stepping up. He specifically mentioned KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel as players who need to take on more responsibility. Sharma also emphasized the importance of giving debuts to young Indian players in matches held in India rather than foreign conditions.

It is worth noting that India does have experienced players in the middle-order even without Virat Kohli. Shreyas Iyer, for instance, has played 7 Tests in India and has managed to score 430 runs on challenging tracks. As a spin specialist, he has achieved one century and three half-centuries, and he aims to continue his impressive performance.

On the other hand, KL Rahul has already played 16 Tests in India, accumulating 923 runs with an average of 40. KS Bharat, who made his debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 against Australia, has scored 101 runs from 4 Tests.

To be fair to Bharat, he only found his rhythm in the final match of that series, which took place in Ahmedabad. In that match, he scored 44 runs, including 2 boundaries and 3 sixes. Although Bharat is 30 years old and may not be considered a youngster, he is still relatively new to Test matches.

Despite the fact that the collective experience of these three players falls short of Virat Kohli’s 50 matches in India, now might be the opportune moment for them to rise to the occasion. It is worth noting that the Indian team has not suffered a defeat in a home Test series since 2012 when they faced England. A victory on home soil would provide a strong foundation for the team throughout the year, particularly as they gear up for the challenging 5-match Test series against Australia Down Under at the end of the year.