Michael Vaughan has stirred up debate ahead of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, suggesting that India won’t miss Virat Kohli’s batting during the five-Test series in England. Speaking to Fox Cricket, the former England skipper acknowledged Kohli’s stature and impact as a leader but pointed to his modest record in English conditions as a reason why his absence might not hurt India’s performance with the bat.
Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, leaves behind an illustrious career with over 9,000 runs in 123 matches, but also exits amid a transitional phase for Indian cricket. With Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin also having stepped away from the longest format, a fresh Indian lineup will face the challenge of playing in England without several of its senior pillars.
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“Kohli is a legend and a culture creator in Indian cricket,” Michael Vaughan admitted. “What he brought as a captain—his energy, his aggression, that drive—still resonates in the dressing room. But in purely batting terms, you don’t massively miss someone who averages 33 in England. You do, however, miss his presence and influence.”
Vaughan was quick to point out that India’s new generation could be more than capable of rising to the occasion. “These players are seriously good. Maybe they’ve been waiting for this moment to emerge from the shadows. Don’t be surprised if they put in some big performances this summer,” he added.
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Kohli’s Test record in England is a mixed bag. Across 17 matches, he scored 1,096 runs at an average of 33.21. His debut tour in 2014 was underwhelming—just 134 runs at 13.40—but he rebounded strongly in 2018, smashing 593 runs at 59.30, including two centuries. His final tour in 2021 yielded 249 runs at 27.66, with India leading 2-1 before the final Test was postponed.
As India prepares to take on England at Headingley from June 20, all eyes will be on how this new-look team performs without its former talisman—and whether Vaughan’s prediction rings true.
