The India-England Test series kicked off yesterdaay at Headingley, marking a new era for the Indian team — one without Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma in the Test setup. With both legends of the game recently stepping away from the longest format, many fans and experts have expressed concern over the void their absence might create, especially in the batting lineup.
However, former England captain Michael Vaughan isn’t convinced that Kohli will be a big miss — at least not in English conditions. Speaking to Fox Sports, Vaughan pointed out Kohli’s modest Test average in England, which stands at just 33.21, significantly lower than his overall career average of 46.85.
“Kohli’s a legend, no doubt,” Vaughan acknowledged. “He changed the energy, attitude, and aggression in the Indian camp. But when you look at the numbers—he averages just 33 in England. Why miss that? Though yes, the influence he had in the dressing room, that will be hard to replace.”
Kohli featured in 17 Tests in England across three tours, managing just two centuries and five fifties, totaling 1,096 runs.
With Kohli and Rohit out, the Indian team is transitioning. Shubman Gill now slots in at No. 4, while young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan are stepping up. Vaughan sees this as a promising development:
“These youngsters are genuinely good. Maybe they were just waiting for their moment. If they perform well now, it won’t surprise me at all.”