Team India head coach Rahul Dravid stated that the absence of Virat Kohli in the first two Tests against England will surely allow someone else to prove their mettle on the international stage as well. However, Virat Kohli opted out of the first two Tests of the five-match Test series starting January 25 citing ‘personal reasons’. In the pre-match press conference, Rahul Dravid shared that missing a player like him is tough for the team but he also backed other players to do well.

“I think you know any team will miss the quality of a player of the Virat. There’s no doubt about it. You know, he’s a phenomenal player. His record speaks for him. On the field, his presence is a huge boost to the side. But having said that, you know, I think, it just presents another opportunity for somebody else to be able to step up and to be able to put in some performances,” Rahul Dravid said at the press conference. “And of course, you know, for reasons I can’t be helped, he is not available for us in the first couple of games, But certainly like I said it, you know, while he will be missed. It’s a great opportunity for somebody else to really, sort of show us what they’ve got in this conditions.”

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Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid also backed the underfire Shubman Gill. He also said that Gill, like any other young player, will take some time to do well.

“Gill is a fine player. Starting out the journey as a cricketer sometimes…we forget that it takes a little bit of time at times. Some guys have success instantly, actually he is one of those guys who has done really well in some of his early days, especially in Australia. To be fair to him a lot of young guys coming through are playing on some challenging wickets, whether it’s been in India or England or West Indies. It has been a pretty challenging wickets for the last two or three years,” Rahul Dravid concluded.