The big England vs India Test series starts on June 20 and already the talk is about what India will miss—Virat Kohli.
England’s vice-captain Ollie Pope praised new captain Shubman Gill but said India will miss the “aura” and presence that Kohli brought, especially in the field.
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India hasn’t won a Test series in England since 2007. Now they come without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ashwin.
Shubman Gill leads a young team with Gautam Gambhir as head coach. This is their first real test in the post-Kohli era.
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As from social media: “Shubman might be a good captain but Virat’s energy at slips lifted the whole team.
He was always talking, pushing players, keeping the pressure on.”
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Pope echoed the same, “We will miss seeing Kohli at slips, chirping and firing everyone up. That spark is hard to replace.”
Pope said Shubman is a fantastic player and India has plenty of talent but Kohli’s presence was special.
He wasn’t just a batter—he was always in the game, always loud, always pushing. That kept India sharp, especially in tough places like England.
Pope also said the timing of this series is perfect for England ahead of the Ashes. But they aren’t treating India as a warm-up.
India’s talent is well known. Still Pope subtly hinted they’re glad Kohli isn’t there—because he made a difference even without scoring.
This series isn’t just about runs. It’s about control, energy and leadership. Shubman Gill has the calm but does he have that fire Kohli brought every day on the field?
That’s the real test now. Kohli’s numbers might be gone—but the void he leaves behind is much bigger.
