Michael Atherton, the former England captain, believes that India lacked Virat Kohli‘s on-field energy during the first Test against England in Hyderabad. He highlighted Virat Kohli‘s absence, especially when England gained momentum in the second innings, led by Ollie Pope’s impressive performance.
Rohit Sharm is a captain in a very different mould from Virat Kohli- Michael Atherton
Virat Kohli’s last-minute withdrawal from the squad due to personal reasons left a void in Team India, especially during the first Test against England in Hyderabad. Kohli’s absence not only impacted the team’s batting in the middle order, but it also led to a lack of vibrancy and energy on the field, with senior players like Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul adopting a more laid-back approach.
“Rohit Sharma is a captain in a very different mould from his predecessor [Kohli] — at once more laid-back, albeit not quite so passive as MS Dhoni,” Michael Atherton wrote in his column for The Times ahead of the second Test.
“As England began to get ahead in Hyderabad, Kohli’s electric presence in the field, as much as anything, was missed. It would not have been hard to imagine the way he would have tried to whip up the crowd and the way his energy would have been transmitted to others,” Michael Atherton added.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan emphasized that the absence of Virat Kohli was a significant factor contributing to Team India’s unexpected defeat in the first Test against England.
Virat Kohli’s fiery spirit has been a pivotal factor in Team India’s historic victories, notably their memorable win at Lord’s in 2021 and numerous other triumphs during his captaincy. His aggressive approach and dynamic leadership have often played a crucial role in guiding India to success in Test cricket.
Even without the formal leadership role, Virat Kohli continues to be a vocal and influential presence on the field. His ability to motivate teammates, engage with opposition players, and contribute to strategic discussions with the captain makes him a crucial figure in shaping the team’s dynamics.
All the problems lie with India– Michael Atherton on India’s issues ahead of the 2nd Test match
The absence of Ravindra Jadeja due to a hamstring injury poses a significant challenge for India, as his versatile skills in batting, bowling, and fielding contribute to the team’s balance. With the third spinner spot up for grabs, newcomers Washington Sundar and Saurabh Kumar, along with Kuldeep Yadav, are in contention to fill the void left by Jadeja. The team will need to carefully assess their options to maintain the desired balance in the playing XI.
“Washington Sundar, the off-spinning all-rounder who was called into the squad this week, weakens the bowling; Saurabh Kumar, the left-arm all-rounder, weakens the batting, as would Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist spin. All the problems lie with India,” Michael Atherton added.
Team India and England are set to face off in the second Test of the series in Visakhapatnam, commencing on Friday, February 2.