'I Don't Think It Weakens Them': Former England Cricketer on Virat Kohli's Absence From Indian Squad

No Virat Kohli? No problem, says former England international David Lloyd, who believes that India will not be ‘weakened’ due to the absence of the talisman batter as the young crop of batting talents such as Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal will take over the mantle.

Virat Kohli will extend his period of absence till the end of the England series, as the talisman batter cited that he was taking the break for ‘personal reasons’.

“Virat Kohli will remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series due to personal reasons. The Board fully respects and supports Mr. Kohli’s decision,” the BCCI stated in the release on Saturday.

“Virat has spoken to Captain Rohit Sharma, the team management and the selectors and has emphasized that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention,” the statement added.

Although India managed to secure a comfortable win in the second Test, their lack of stability in their top-middle order has been very apparent throughout both Tests. The Indian squad seems heavily reliant on one batter always having to step up and take control, while the rest of the batting order seems to crumble.

This has been the case in the last Test, with the likes of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill having to take the charge and lead the Indians to a comfortable total in consecutive innings.

So, the experience of a Virat Kohli in the top-middle order would surely help bolster the line-up and add more firepower to the side.

Despite it all, David Lloyd thinks that the younger crop of batters will take on the responsibility to put runs on the board in his absence.

“All of India has been digesting the news that Virat Kohli will not play any part in the series but I don’t think it weakens them too much even if he is one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen,” he wrote for The Daily Mail.

“Shubman Gill stepped up in the second Test and the Indian batters are all well capable of getting massive scores. The one England have had the most problems with so far is Yashasvi Jaiswal and their challenge therefore is to try to work out a plan to dismiss the series’ leading run scorer.”

And Lloyd is not wrong. It was indeed Jaiswal and Gill who were the lone saviors in consecutive innings respectively. Jaiswal took on the English bowlers, nothcing up a stellar double-century while it was Gill who played out a calm and composed century in the second innings to help India set their total that the England team could ultimately not chase down.

The third Test of the five-match series between India and England is set to take place at Rajkot from February 15.