Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has reignited the cricketing discourse by asserting that Virat Kohli would have scored heavily had he been part of the ongoing Test series in England. His remarks come in the wake of India’s five-wicket defeat at Headingley, which exposed the team’s fragile middle order and lack of experience in overseas conditions.
Ganguly: “Champions Like Kohli Rediscover Themselves”
Speaking to PTI, Ganguly said, “I guarantee that if Virat was on this tour of England, he would have scored runs. Champions like him rediscover themselves.” He expressed surprise at Kohli’s sudden retirement from Test cricket in May 2025, especially given his fitness and continued presence in white-ball formats.
Kohli’s England Legacy: Numbers Speak
Despite a lean patch in recent years, Kohli’s record in England remains formidable:
- 1,096 runs in 33 innings at an average of 33.21
- Player of the Series in 2018, scoring 593 runs at 59.30
- Two centuries and five fifties on English soil
Ganguly emphasized that Kohli’s intensity and tactical acumen could have made a difference in crunch moments, especially as India’s young core struggles to adapt to English conditions.
Retirement Still a Talking Point
Kohli’s decision to retire from Tests shocked fans and officials alike. Ganguly revealed that the BCCI tried to persuade him to reconsider, but the star batter felt it was the right time to step away. “Just like I did in 2008, he knew when to go,” Ganguly added.
India’s Transition Under Scrutiny
With India trailing 0–1 in the five-match series, the absence of seasoned campaigners like Kohli is being felt both on and off the field. As the team prepares for the second Test at Edgbaston, the spotlight remains on leadership voids and middle-order inconsistency.
🔁 Share this article to join the debate on Kohli’s Test legacy and India’s evolving red-ball strategy.
