India will miss Virat Kohli on England Tour, says Ollie Pope

The upcoming India vs England Test series is poised as a significant event for the teams, more so for the visitors. It's a transition phase for India as a new captain takes his team to England for the five-match series. India is required to fend for a likable finish without the expertise of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The seasoned duo announced their respective retirements just weeks ahead of the start of the new cycle. Now, the threads of the Indian squad have been handed to Shubman Gill, who will start his captaincy tenure with the India Tour of England. While the team has carefully picked the prospects to replace Kohli and Rohit in the lineup, India is deemed to miss the senior duo one way or another.

Ollie Pope reflects on the absence of Virat Kohli in the India vs England Test series

As India gears up to kick off a new era in Test cricket, English batter Ollie Pope believes that the visitors will feel the absence of Virat Kohli. Kohli, one of the modern-day cricketing legends, is no one-dimensional player. Along with his unmatched skills, Kohli brought a leadership that made the difference and a temperament that redefined the team's approach on the field. Kohli never shied away from getting under the skin of his opponents, irrespective of the venue. Be it the opponent's den or his home, Kohli was one chirpy and aggressive presence in red-ball cricket.

Now, as India treads on a new path, one that won't have Kohli walking the lane, it would take time for the lot to move on. England's top-order batter Ollie Pope believes that it's not just Kohli's batting prowess that the India squad would miss in England. Pope noted that the new group would lack the energy and presence that Virat Kohli brought, especially while fielding in the slips. The India vs England Test series is set to start on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds. Meanwhile, the spotlight is now on the transition within the Indian camp following the retirements of Rohit and Kohli.

In a recent interaction, Pope acknowledged the void left by the experienced pair but also expressed confidence in India’s bench strength. The England batter stated that the team has a strong pool of emerging talent capable of stepping into those roles. That said, he pointed out that Kohli's on-field presence, often intense and vocal, added a certain edge that will be hard to replicate.

"It's a young team, but these Indian players, they have got so much depth and talent. So they've got a lot of young guys coming through; a lot of good players. Shubman Gill, their new captain, is a fantastic player. They will miss the aura of Virat Kohli standing at slips and chirping away. But they have got some good talent, so they will feel confident. But our players are ready for it," Pope said.