IND vs ENG Test Series: Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli has opted out of IND vs ENG first two Tests, citing personal reasons. The much-anticipated IND vs ENG five-match Test series is scheduled to kick off on January 25 in Hyderabad. As of now, there is no official replacement for Kohli, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has assured that a stand-in choice will be announced shortly.
Virat Kohli's recent form in Test cricket has been good. The veteran played a pivotal role in India's drawn two-match Test series in South Africa, earlier this year. In the two Tests, Kohli amassing a total of 172 runs in four innings, which included an impactful half-century.
Players Who Can Replace Virat Kohli In India Playing 11 For IND vs ENG First Two Tests
It is being predicted that either Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan or Madhya Pradesh's Rajat Patidar, both distinguished performers for India 'A', are leading contenders to step in as Virat Kohli's replacement.
Recently, Rajat Patidar delivered an impressive performance by scoring 151 runs against England Lions in an unofficial Test. In the second innings of the same game, Sarfaraz Khan exhibited his batting skills by notching up a half-century.
Their recent form in India's unofficial Test against England Lions make them compelling candidates for the potential replacement of Virat Kohli in the upcoming first two Tests against England.
It is also being speculated that seasoned India Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara might also be in contention for a spot in India lineup as Virat Kohli's replacement for IND vs ENG first two Tests. Notably, Pujara has a wealth of experience in Test cricket, amassing over 20,000 first-class runs, which notably includes 7,000 runs in Test cricket.
India's updated squad for 1st two Tests vs England: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan