Following India's narrow 22-run defeat against England at Lord's in the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, former England captain Nasser Hussain pointed out the void left by Virat Kohli's absence. Hussain, commentating for Sky Sports, remarked that India needs to find a new Virat Kohli, as the "old one" has retired. He emphasized that India was missing the irreplaceable aura and calm of a seasoned chase-master.
The loss at Lord's was a painful one for India, who were bowled out for 170 while chasing a target of 193. Ravindra Jadeja's valiant unbeaten 61 went in vain as England took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Despite the presence of promising young talents like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, the absence of Kohli's experience and tenacity was palpable.
Shubman Gill, who is currently captaining the Test team, has shown great promise and has already achieved some remarkable feats. In the second Test against England, Gill scored a phenomenal 269 runs, surpassing Virat Kohli's previous record of 254 runs for the highest score by an Indian Test captain. This also made Gill the second Indian captain to score a double century in an overseas Test, after Kohli. Gill's 269 is also the highest score by an Indian batter in England, breaking Sunil Gavaskar's long-standing record. Furthermore, it is the highest score by an Indian outside Asia, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar's previous record.
Gill has also joined an elite list of players to score centuries in their first two Tests as captain, alongside Vijay Hazare and Sunil Gavaskar. He is also the second-youngest Indian captain to score a double hundred. In the first Test at Headingley, Gill scored an unbeaten 127, becoming the fifth Indian captain to score a century on his Test captaincy debut. He later followed it up with another unbeaten century in the second Test at Edgbaston.
Despite Gill's individual brilliance, India's batting lineup faltered in the run chase at Lord's. The middle and lower order collapsed under pressure, and only Jadeja offered substantial resistance. This collapse highlighted the need for a player who can not only score runs but also guide the team through difficult situations, much like Kohli did in his prime.
Nasser Hussain has previously lauded Kohli's impact on Test cricket, noting how Kohli's passion and aggression inspired his team. Hussain recalled Kohli's speech during the 2021 Lord's Test, where he urged his players to "unleash hell" on the England batting lineup. He acknowledged that Test match cricket was better when Kohli was playing and that Kohli added so much to the game.
While Shubman Gill has emerged as a leading figure in Indian cricket and has demonstrated his potential as a future star, filling the void left by Virat Kohli's retirement is a tall order. Kohli's experience, his ability to handle pressure, and his aggressive leadership are qualities that are hard to replace. India needs to identify and nurture players who can step up and take on the responsibility of being the team's backbone in tough situations. As Hussain pointed out, the search for a "new Virat Kohli" is now underway.
