In an unexpected twist ahead of the eagerly anticipated Test series, the Indian cricket team will have to chart their course without their seasoned campaigner, Virat Kohli. The ace batsman has made himself unavailable for the first two matches against England, citing personal reasons for his absence. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it official that the former India captain will not be part of the opening engagements in the five-match series beginning in Hyderabad on January 25.
In a statement released by the BCCI, “Virat has been in communication with Captain Rohit Sharma, the team management, and the selectors, stressing the primacy of representing his country, yet acknowledging the pressing nature of personal affairs that he must attend to with focused care.” Kohli’s absence certainly casts a shadow, but the depth in the Indian cricket landscape offers reassurances.
The BCCI is poised to announce a replacement shortly, and speculation is rife about the likely contenders. With Kohli’s departure leaving a considerable void, let’s examine the three front-runners poised to take up the mantle in the Indian batting line-up for the first two Tests against England.
Sarfaraz Khan has been persistent in making his mark, evident from his impressive batting streak for India A against England Lions. Returning scores such as 96 and 55, and boasting a staggering Ranji Trophy average—154, 122, and 91 across the last three seasons—Sarfaraz’s consistent performances with the red ball make him a deserving candidate. This might be the opportune moment for him to don the national colors for his Test debut.
Rajat Patidar is another name that has been floating in the selection periphery, having already made the ODI squad rosters in recent years. His development as a red-ball cricketer is hard to ignore, particularly after knocks of 151 and 111 in the India A clashes versus England Lions. Patidar, assuring with a first-class average just shy of 46, has looked comfortable against pace and spin alike—a credential that could just be the ticket to his inclusion in the Test squad.
Veteran Cheteshwar Pujara’s chances are also under the scanner. Having recently piled on runs in the domestic circuit, evident with a recent double-century against Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy, Pujara remains a viable option. The question remains whether the Indian management, after opting for a youth-focused transition, could retract and offer Pujara another chance. With Ajinkya Rahane’s form waning, Pujara’s domestic dominance keeps him very much in the conversation for a recall.
The forthcoming series against England presents both challenge and opportunity for India’s home-side batting dynamic. As the BCCI deliberates over the potential replacements, the nation holds its breath, waiting to learn who will step up to fill the boots of one of India’s modern-day cricketing legends.
India’s Team Composition for First Two Tests
India’s announced squad sans Kohli is as follows: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli (to be replaced), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), and Avesh Khan. The team, and its sum of parts, is all set to face the English contingent, notwithstanding the key player’s absence. As the cricketing fraternity eagerly awaits the series kick-off, all eyes are on the dressing room doors to see who emerges to uphold the Indian batting legacy in the Test arena.
