The absence of Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the Test collection in England will give a “massive boost” to the hosts, stated former all-rounder Moeen Ali, including that Shubman Gill could be the seemingly alternative to lead the facet for the gruelling five-match tour commencing subsequent month.
Rohit and Virat introduced their retirements from Test cricket which has left India with out two of their most skilled gamers for the collection, which can also be the start of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle.
The collection will start with the opening Test scheduled at Headingley from June 20.
“Definitely, I think it’s a massive boost for England. Two top players who’ve been to England a few times on tour, so they have the experience. I remember Rohit playing really well the last time they were in England. The character they have, the leaders they [are], both of them have captained India in Test cricket, so yeah a massive loss for the team,” the previous England all-rounder, who retired from worldwide cricket final yr however continues to play in home T20 leagues together with the IPL, informed Sky Sports.
Moeen, who performed 68 Tests and showcased his all-round skills, scoring greater than 3,000 runs and taking 200-plus wickets along with his off-spin, added that Gill could be a “very good” alternative to lead India regardless of his inexperience of captaining India within the longest format.
Gill, who has emerged because the frontrunner to lead India after Rohit’s retirement from Test cricket, has by no means captained India within the longest format or ODIs.
“I think it will be Shubman Gill. Ideally they [BCCI] would want Jasprit Bumrah to captain because he is a very good captain, a good leader who has done it before.”
“But because of his injury record he might not be a able to last the whole series, I think they’ll give it [captaincy] to somebody who’s done decently so far in Test cricket. Gill leads Gujarat Titans in IPL, so they’ve still got a very, very good captain, inexperienced yes but a good captain and good brain, but it’ll be a challenge [in England conditions],” Moeen opined.
Moeen felt that if Gill is made captain, he ought to be prepared for the challenges first-time captains face in English circumstances.
“England is a challenge for anybody, any team that comes over and when it’s your first time as captain, it’s very, very difficult. So, I think the signs look good for England to take the series but I would never underestimate India or their ability they have with the bat in particular.”
“But they have brilliant players who just don’t have the experience of obviously playing in England and that’s something that you need in England. I think it’s a great chance for England.”
Moeen known as Kohli a “pioneer” in Test cricket, including that his crowd-pulling capacity was solely second to Sachin Tendulkar.
“It’s [Kohli’s retirement] a massive blow to Test cricket. He was the one pioneer, the one guy in Test cricket that always pushed the format. Amazing player, amazing career.
“He’s finished a lot for the sport itself, particularly in India. I believe after Sachin [Tendulkar], he was the man everyone comes to watch and he crammed out stadiums. Amazing file, an excellent participant to watch as properly. The model he performed with (was) very aggressive and an excellent captain as properly. An enormous blow to Test cricket,” he stated.
Published – May 14, 2025 04:24 am IST
