As India endured a deciding loss in the current Test series against England, veteran Congress leader Shashi Tharoor rekindled debate on the lack of Virat Kohli, one of India's most experienced cricketers.
Posting on social media, Tharoor admitted he had missed Kohli during the entire series, "but never so much as in this Test match," speculating that the former skipper's signature grit, aggression, and captaincy could have altered the course of the game.
Tharoor emphasized the value of Kohli’s intensity and his ability to score heavily under pressure — qualities India appeared to lack at critical moments in the match. Though Kohli is currently on a break from international cricket for personal reasons, Tharoor’s half-humorous appeal — “Is it too late to call him out of retirement? Virat, the nation needs you!” — quickly gained traction online, echoing the sentiments of fans frustrated by India’s erratic form.
The post sparked a wider discussion about India’s current batting lineup and the energy levels on the field in tense situations. Despite the team management’s public support for the existing squad, many believe the absence of a player with Kohli’s experience and personality has created a void that’s hard to ignore.
Now behind 1-2 in the series, India had gone into the last Test with hopes of tying the score. Reduced to 224 in the first innings, the visitors launched a solid bowling effort to keep England to 247 — a deficit of just 23 runs. A dogged second innings, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal's century, took India to 396 and left the target of 374 for England.
England bounced back from early troubles, though. At 106/3, Harry Brook (111) and Joe Root (105) added a 195-run fourth-wicket stand to leave England in control. When play was interrupted by rain towards the end of the last session, the hosts were 339/6 — needing only 35 more runs to seal the match and win the series 3-1, taking the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Though Shubman Gill has led impressively with the bat in his inaugural series as captain, with over 700 runs, and efforts by K.L. Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant have been impressive, the captaincy and determination Kohli displayed on the field are still lacking.
Regardless of whether selectors make a move to bring him back, Kohli’s absence remains a central talking point as India grapples with the challenges of a demanding overseas tour.
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