IND vs ENG: Team India is in trouble with Virat Kohli missing from the first two matches of the 5-Test series against England starting January 25. Virat Kohli will not be part of the team for the first two Tests due to personal reasons. With Virat Kohli not playing, Team India will have to come up with a new strategy for the first two Tests. Mohammed Shami is also not available for the first two tests.
On Monday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said that Virat Kohli will not be part of the team for the first two Tests. BCCI has not yet announced Virat Kohli's replacement. However, BCCI has said that Virat Kohli's replacement will be announced for the first two Tests.
Lack of mid-level experience
With Virat Kohli not playing, Team India's middle order has become weak. Virat Kohli has been at his best lately. In the World Cup held in India last year, Virat Kohli scored the highest score of 765 runs in 11 matches. Virat Kohli's bat shows many colors in Test cricket. Virat Kohli has scored 8,848 runs in 113 Tests at an excellent average of 49. Virat Kohli has also scored 29 centuries in Test cricket. Furthermore, Virat Kohli has scored the most runs for India in two of the last four series against England.
If Virat Kohli doesn't play, the lack of experience in the Indian middle order will be clearly visible. Apart from Rohit Sharma, no other batsman in the top five has the experience of playing 50 Tests. Furthermore, Shreyas Iyer's form is questionable. Apart from that, KL Rahul has been playing in the middle order lately, so you don't have to expect much from him.