Follow UsFormer England all-rounder Moeen Ali said that after Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli was one cricketer who filled stadiums on his own in Test cricket, when it came to India.
Reacting to Kohli’s Test retirement, which the legend announced on May 12, Moeen, who himself retired in 2024, said that it has left a big gap in Test cricket and one which would be very hard to fill.
“It’s a massive blow to Test cricket. He was the one pioneer, the one guy in Test cricket that always pushed the format. He has done enough. He’s done so much for the game itself, especially in India. I think after Sachin (Tendulkar), he was the guy everybody came to watch, and he filled out stadiums,” Moeen was quoted as saying to Sky Sports.
“Amazing record, a brilliant player to watch as well. The style he played with (was) very competitive and a brilliant captain as well. A big blow to Test cricket,” added the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player.
Not only Kohli, but Rohit Sharma, the Indian Test captain, also bid goodbye to the format earlier this month. Moeen said that two big guns going out ahead of an important series would mean benefit to the hosts England.
“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,” he said.
India’s tour of England, where they will play five Tests under the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, will kick off with the first Test at Headingley on June 20th.