Geoffrey Boycott: 'Kohli's Absence Bigger Blow To India Than Rohit's Retirement'
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Geoffrey Boycott feels Virat Kohli's absence is a bigger blow to India in England than Rohit Sharma's retirement.
Former England batter Geoffrey Boycott believes that Virat Kohli's absence is a greater blow to India than Rohit Sharma's retirement ahead of the five-match Test series in Leeds. Kohli was considered their key player by the right-handed batter.
Both Rohit and Kohli announced their retirements from Test cricket in May, leaving significant gaps in India's lineup at the opening and number four positions, respectively. Kohli, 36, amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, placing him fourth on India's all-time Test run-scorers list.
'The retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma hurts the chances of India beating England. Kohli is the biggest loss as he has been their best batsman and talisman in all three formats. With so much international cricket played by India, and so little rest, it takes its toll and the mind becomes fatigued.
'It does not matter how much talent or experience you have, if you are not mentally fresh and up for the challenge then it becomes draining. Rohit was a superb batsman. At his best, a beautiful stroke player, but he won't be missed as much as Kohli because his Test record was good rather than exceptional. In the last couple of years his batting was a little inconsistent, which was not surprising in his late 30s.
'Rohit was never a natural athlete like Kohli and he knows that opening the innings in England can be pretty tough because the new ball moves around more. You really have to be up for the challenge to have any chance of success. I just think that over time the wear and tear of opening the innings and being captain in all three formats wore him down," wrote Boycott in his column for The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday.
England enter the crucial series against India after defeating Zimbabwe in a one-off Test at Trent Bridge last month. Boycott has urged the Ben Stokes-led side to moderate their Bazball style of batting to ensure victory against India, alongside applying some common sense.
'Their only thought should be winning because it is no use telling us how good you are when the last three World Test Championship finals have been played in our country but England have not qualified for any of them. They should be embarrassed. Their aim should be to make the next WTC final.
'The new cycle starts now and somebody needs to get through to the England players that being a winner is better than being known as an entertainer. If you can win and entertain, that is a bonus. At the moment England are like a one-trick-pony.
'It's Bazball or Bazball and that is the way we play; take it or leave it. They don't want to change or learn from their losses. It doesn't seem to make any difference that so many top class ex-England Test players keep telling them to moderate their batting. So please, get your act together, bring your best game and apply some cricket nous," he concluded.
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