Follow UsVirat Kohli has had a separate fan base altogether and no matter where he went, be it England, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia or even the USA and Caribbean, his aura was different, especially in Test cricket, drawing audiences to the ground with his aggressive style of play.
England’s Test vice-captain Ollie Pope feels that the young Indian team, which is on a tour of England, where they will play five Tests, will miss that aura as the legendary batter retired from the format ahead of the tour.
“They will miss the aura of Virat Kohli standing at slips and chirping away,” Sportstar quoted Pope as saying to talkSPORT.
“It’s a young team, but these Indian players have got so much depth and talent. They’ve got a lot of young guys coming through; a lot of good players. Shubman Gill, their new captain, is a fantastic player,” he added.
Saying that his players are ready for India, he termed the series against the visitors as good preparation for 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. It’s the perfect time to play India, and then once the Ashes come around, it will be exciting,” he said.
India will play their first match, starting June 20 at Headingley.