Kohli Should Captain India For England Test Series: Michael Vaughan

One of the biggest developments in Indian cricket this century emerged last week as multiple reports claimed that Virat Kohli had already informed the BCCI that he was stepping away from red-ball cricket permanently. 

While there’s been no official confirmation of any sorts, Kohli’s retirement will mean India will be losing two senior players at the same time, with Rohit Sharma also calling it quits from Test cricket.

Shubman Gill has been earmarked as both Rohit and Kohli’s successor (as captain / batter) and it’s believed that the 25-year-old will be officially announced as the new Test skipper by the BCCI in a week or two. 

However, former England captain Michael Vaughan is of a different opinion, with the 50-year-old wanting Kohli to not just delay retirement, but captain India in the five-Test series against England.

“If I was India I would give the captaincy to Virat for the Test series in England. Shubman Gill can be his VC for the tour,” Vaughan wrote on X. 

Vaughan is not the only former player that’s come in support of Kohli and has requested the former skipper to quash retirement plans. A few days back, retired India batter Ambati Rayudu put in a heartfelt request to Kohli, asking him not to walk away from Test cricket.

“Virat Kohli please don’t retire. The Indian team needs you more than ever. You have so much more in the tank. Test cricket will not be the same without you walking out to battle it out for Team India.. Please reconsider,” Rayudu wrote on X. 

Kohli has been in sublime touch in both ODIs and T20s, but the same cannot be said for his Test form. Since the start of 2020, he averages just 30.72 in 39 Tests with three hundreds to his name. 

The five-Test series against England will kick-off on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.