England Test vice-captain Ollie Pope believes that the Shubman Gill-led Indian team will feel the absence of Virat Kohli, both his commanding presence and the energy he brings, especially from the slip cordon, in the upcoming Test series.
In a recent interview with talkSPORT Cricket, Pope pointed out how Kohli’s presence adds a competitive edge to any series. He also praised Gill, calling him a “fantastic player,” and acknowledged the threat posed by the Indian team, while adding that England are fully prepared for the challenge.
“It’s a young team, but these Indian players… they have got so much depth and talent,” Pope said while talking to talkSPORT. “So they’ve got a lot of young guys coming through; a lot of good players. Shubman Gill, their new captain, is a fantastic player. They will miss the aura of Virat Kohli standing at slips and chirping away. But they have got some good talent, so they will feel confident. But our players are ready for it.
Following the retirements of Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Team India have ushered in a new era, introducing several fresh faces into their batting line-up. The upcoming Test series against England marks the beginning of this new chapter.
India have not won a Test series on English soil since 2007, having lost the last three consecutive series.
It’s a great time for us to play India: Pope
Pope highlighted the significance of India’s tour from England’s perspective, noting that the series serves as crucial preparation ahead of the Ashes later this year.
“It’s a great time for us to play India. Last summer, we had the West Indies and Sri Lanka, but with India coming over, the level of quality that they will bring is a great way for us to focus on that and not look ahead. So yeah, for us, it’s the perfect time to play India, and then once the Ashes come around, it will be exciting,” Pope added.
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