How Much Will India Miss Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on the England Tour?
With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring, India will tour England without their two senior stars. Shubman Gill will lead the team as captain, while Rishabh Pant will take over as vice-captain. Their absence will be a big change for the team, as both players have been key figures in India’s success for many years.
The India Tour of England 2025 is set to begin on June 20, 2025, as a 5-match Test series will be played between England and India. With the Indian team announced, the fans were still looking for those two names in the sheet, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the two Indian players who have carried the team for over the years now. With Rohit Sharma announcing his test retirement on 7th May 2025 and then Virat Kohli announcing his Test Retirement on 12th May 2025, both of them leave a major void which has to be filled by the youngsters coming up in the squad now.
Paps to Rishabh pant : "Rohit Sharma sir kidar hai"
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) June 6, 2025
Rishabh pant : "garden, mein Ghum Rahe hain"
Paps : "sir apko yaad ayegi ki nahi garden ki"
Rishabh : "garden ki to bahot yaad ayegi bhai"🥺
Everyone is missing Rohit Sharma.😿 pic.twitter.com/wFt9s04TK7
Moreover, while boarding the flight for the England tour, Rishabh Pant was seen outside the airport having casual fun with fans and media. When a fan asked him about Rohit Sharma’s whereabouts, Pant jokingly replied, “Garden main ghoom rahe hai,” referring to Rohit’s famous on-field comment from last year. During the 2023 India vs England Test in Vizag, Rohit had told his teammates, “Koi garden main ghoomta hua nahi dikhna chahiye,” a humorous way to remind them to stay alert on the field. That moment had gone viral and turned into a popular meme. With Rohit now retired and missing from the current tour, Pant’s witty callback to that moment left fans in splits. And now, the main question arises: how much will the fans and the players miss the duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during the England tour?
Rohit Sharma
The former Test captain of India, Rohit Sharma, known for his bold style and as India’s top run-scorer in the World Test Championship, retired from Test cricket on May 7, 2025. From 2013 to 2024, Rohit played 67 Tests, scoring 4,301 runs in 116 innings at an average of 40.57. With 12 centuries, including a dazzling 212 against South Africa in 2019, and 18 fifties, he smashed 473 fours and 88 sixes off 7,538 balls, keeping a strike rate of 57.05. Starting as a middle-order batter, his move to opener in 2019 brought out his best, with only six ducks showing his reliability.
| Span | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | High Score | Average | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 0 | 4 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall (2013–2024) | 67 | 116 | 10 | 4301 | 212 | 40.57 | 7538 | 57.05 | 12 | 18 | 6 | 473 | 88 |
| vs England (2014–2024) | 14 | 26 | 2 | 1147 | 161 | 47.79 | 2173 | 52.78 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 136 | 16 |
| In England (2014–2023) | 7 | 14 | 1 | 524 | 127 | 40.30 | 1190 | 44.03 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 5 |
| England Tour 2021 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 368 | 127 | 52.57 | 866 | 42.49 | 1 | 2 | – | 42 | 4 |
Rohit Sharma was a rock against England, piling up 1,147 runs in 14 Tests from 2014 to 2024 over 26 innings, averaging a solid 47.79. His best was a gutsy 161 in Chennai in 2021, with four centuries and four fifties, never getting out for a duck. Facing 2,173 balls, he smashed 136 fours and 16 sixes at a strike rate of 52.78. His big scores and cool-headed style made him a crowd favorite, taking on England’s tough bowlers with ease.
In England’s swing-friendly conditions, Rohit scored 524 runs in seven Tests from 2014 to 2023, averaging 40.30 across 14 innings. His top knock was a classy 127 at The Oval in 2021, with one century and two fifties, no ducks. He faced 1,190 balls, hitting 62 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 44.03, showing he could grind it out against seam and swing. His performances in two WTC Finals proved he thrived in big moments.
EDEN GARDENS BIG SCREEN SHOWING ROHIT SHARMA's STATS IN TESTS…!!! pic.twitter.com/yiWvWKhtTD
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 7, 2025
The 2021 England tour was Rohit’s peak. He scored 368 runs in four Tests, averaging 52.57 over eight innings. His match-winning 127 at The Oval, plus two fifties, came off 866 balls with 42 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 42.49. That Oval ton helped India clinch a famous win, pushing a 2–1 lead (series ended 2–2). Rohit’s calm yet attacking batting stole the show.
Rohit’s legacy goes beyond stats. His fearless approach as an opener and smart captaincy, leading India to the 2023 WTC Final, reshaped the team. His 177 on debut against West Indies in 2013 and knocks like the 161 against England showed his class. As India heads to England in June 2025, Rohit’s absence will hurt. His skill in handling English conditions, seen in his 2021 heroics, and his experience will be missed. His captaincy, always steady and clever, kept India competitive. Youngsters now face the tough job of filling his shoes, and fans will feel the void left by his charm and big runs in every game.
Virat Kohli
The man who transformed Test cricket for the Indian team and is considered a brand ambassador of Test cricket, along with being India’s most successful captain, Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement on May 12, 2025. His departure ends an era of passion, fire, and a relentless drive to win. Kohli didn’t just score runs; he changed how India played Tests, especially abroad, with his bold leadership and never-say-die attitude.
| Span | Matches | Innings | Not Out | Runs | High Score | Average | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 0 | 4 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall (2011–2025) | 123 | 210 | 13 | 9230 | 254* | 46.85 | 16608 | 55.57 | 30 | 31 | 15 | 1027 | 30 |
| vs England (2012–2022) | 28 | 50 | 3 | 1991 | 235 | 42.36 | 3824 | 52.06 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 235 | 2 |
| In England (2014–2023) | 17 | 33 | 0 | 1096 | 149 | 33.21 | 2111 | 51.91 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 129 | 1 |
| England Tour 2021 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 249 | 55 | 27.66 | 528 | 47.15 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 0 |
Virat Kohli’s Test career from 2011 to 2025 is the stuff of legends. In 123 matches, he piled up 9,230 runs across 210 innings, averaging a solid 46.85. With 30 centuries — his unbeaten 254 being a jaw-dropper — and 31 fifties, he faced 16,614 balls, smashing 1,027 fours and 30 sixes with a strike rate of 55.57. His mix of grit, flair, and those silky cover drives made him a nightmare for bowlers worldwide.
Against England, from 2012 to 2022, Kohli played 28 Tests, scoring 1,991 runs in 50 innings at an average of 42.36. He blasted 5 centuries, including a stunning 235, and 9 fifties, with a strike rate of 52.06. England’s bowlers pushed him hard, but his big knocks, like that gritty 149 in 2018 won hearts. In England, across 17 Tests from 2014 to 2023, he scored 1,096 runs in 33 innings, averaging 33.21. His 2014 tour was a low point, managing just 134 runs, but he roared back in 2018 with 593 runs at nearly 60, proving his class.
VIRAT KOHLI IN TEST CRICKET:
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) May 12, 2025
Matches – 123.
Innings – 210.
Runs – 9230.
Average – 46.85.
Hundreds – 30.
Fifties – 31.
Double Hundred – 7.
Highest score – 254*.
As Captain runs – 5864.
As Captain Hundreds – 20.
As Captain Fifties – 18.
– THANK YOU, GOAT FOR EVERYTHING..!!!! 🙇🐐 pic.twitter.com/SwYuLx4irR
The 2021 England tour saw Kohli score 249 runs in 9 innings, averaging 27.66 without a century. His bat may have been quiet, but his captaincy was electric. Leading India to a 2–1 edge, he fired up his team with words that hit hard: “They should feel hell out there for 60 overs.” That intensity defined him. His energy, belief, and aggression turned India into fearless travellers, a true Test powerhouse. With 40 wins in 68 Tests as captain, Kohli brought swagger and confidence, whether pumping up his bowlers or grinding through tough sessions. His passion for Test cricket was contagious, inspiring a generation.
As India gears up for England in June 2025, Kohli’s absence will sting. His knack for big runs, his growth in England’s tricky conditions, and his fiery leadership are irreplaceable. Those iconic cover drives, his on-field intensity, and his ability to lift the team made him the King. Fans will feel the void, and young players face a daunting task stepping into his shoes. But Kohli’s love for Test cricket and his legacy as India’s greatest Test captain will live on, etched in cricket history forever.
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