The India cricket team is definitely missing Virat Kohli, the batter, and the team man. The inexperienced Indian middle-order succumbed to Shoaib Bashir’s spin, losing 6 wickets for just 91 runs and handing England an advantage at the end of Day 2 of the India vs England 4th Test.
However, former Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar talked about missing Virat Kohli and the energy he brings on the field, even before the England spinners put the pressure on Indian batters. While Joe Root and Ollie Robinson were grinding their way to 353 in the first session of Day 2, Manjrekar, on commentary, said:
“Virat Kohli is one of those guys. If the fielders are quiet, he’ll get the crowd to back the players and bring energy. When Kohli is out on the field, he gets that intensity going. India are missing him. There’s no one quite like him. He carries that energy.”
His Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate, Dinesh Karthik, also backed it up, saying:
“He has the uncanny knack of getting the crowd behind him,” as India failed to break Root and Robinson’s eventual 102-run stand.