Former England captain turned commentator Michael Vaughan feels that the Indian team is massively missing the captaincy of Virat Kohli especially in Test cricket.
Rohit Sharma’s leadership is facing intense scrutiny following India’s first Test loss to England in Hyderabad, despite initially securing a 190-run lead in the first innings. Criticism, notably from former cricketers like Michael Vaughan, Geoff Boycott, and even Dinesh Karthik, centers around Rohit’s perceived defensiveness and failure to aggressively pursue the opposition in the latter stages of the match.
Notably absent was Virat Kohli, both as a batsman and captain, and Vaughan, during a discussion on the Club Prairie Fire podcast with Adam Gilchrist, emphasized that under Kohli’s captaincy, India might not have faced defeat. Vaughan suggested that Rohit seemed to lose momentum once England gained control, particularly when Ollie Pope was making a significant impact.
According to Michael Vaughan, the outcome of the Hyderabad Test might have been different if Virat Kohli had been leading the Indian team. Despite a substantial first-innings lead of 190 runs, India couldn’t maintain the same level of intensity as England, who showcased an impressive batting performance.
Ollie Pope’s remarkable 196 runs, along with valuable contributions from Ben Foakes and debutant Tom Hartley, propelled England to a formidable total of 420 runs in the second innings. With Tom Hartley’s impressive seven-wicket haul on debut, England secured a 28-run victory. Vaughan expressed that India lacked Kohli’s captaincy prowess in the red-ball format and suggested that they seemed to lose their edge completely during the second innings.
“They miss Virat Kohli’s captaincy massively in Test cricket. Under Virat’s captaincy that week, India wouldn’t have lost the game. Rohit is a legend and a great player. But I felt he just switched off completely” Vaughan said on the Club Prairie Fire show.
Meanwhile, India faced an unprecedented setback, losing a Test match at home after establishing a 100-plus run lead in the first innings. The bowlers, as highlighted by cricket veterans Vaughan and Anil Kumble, seemed to lack the required intensity, a vulnerability skillfully exploited by the Three Lions. Looking ahead to the second Test in Vizag, scheduled to kick off on February 2, the Indian team received a blow with KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja ruled out due to injuries.
In their places, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, and Saurabh Kumar have been brought into the squad. Among these, Sarfaraz is strongly touted to make his debut for the national team, thanks to his stellar performance against the England Lions, earning him a well-deserved spot in the Indian lineup. Presently, the anticipated replacements for Rahul and Jadeja are either Rajat Patidar or Sarfaraz, and Kuldeep Yadav, respectively.
With Kohli still out of action, it’s crucial for the emerging middle-order players to step up in Vizag if India hopes to even the series. England, riding high on their recent victory, will be a tough opponent. The second Test commences on Friday, February 2, and India is likely to see a few changes in their lineup.
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