"It Seemed Things Were Done And Dusted": Ex India Star's Huge Virat Kohli 'Fab 4' Verdict

21.01.2024 - 18:03 sports.ndtv.com

The upcoming Test series between India and England will see two members of the 'Fab-4' of Test cricket square off against each other.

India's Virat Kohli and England's Joe Root have been two of the most consistent batters in the format over the past decade. Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson are the other two members of the 'Fab-4' of Test cricket.

After overcoming a lean patch with the bat, former India opener Aakash Chopra suggested that Kohli is back among his peers. "Yours truly also said that he is no longer part of the Fab 4.

He is now, by the way. It was about the runs at that time, in that period of two years, but he is back again. Steve Smith has fallen away.

cricket India Cricket Team England Cricket Team 2024 Joe Root Steve Smith Virat Kohli Sachin Tendulkar Aakash Chopra Australia New Zealand India county Kane

The Indian cricket team's defeat to England in the opening Test of the 5-match series in Hyderabad has triggered the Indian cricketing spectrum, with questions being raised on skipper Rohit Sharma, head coach Rahul Dravid, and their leadership. Soon after India lost the series opener in Hyderabad, Virat Kohli started to trend on social media, with fans recalling the former skipper's brilliant stats and the team's dominance under his captaincy. Amid the debate, an old video of Kohli has resurfaced, where he summed up the mindset he and the Indian team approach Test matches with.

Virat Kohli's Replacement For First Two England Tests Announced, Another Star Released

Madhya Pradesh's prolific batter Rajat Patidar was on Thursday named as a replacement for India's batting mainstay Virat Kohli for the first two Tests against England. "Rajat Patidar has joined the team as Virat Kohli's replacement for the first two Tests against England," the BCCI said in the announcement. Kohli had decided to make himself unavailable for the first two Tests of the five-match series due to "personal reasons".

India v England Tests: Shoaib Bashir visa issue and Virat Kohli's absence in spotlight

A five-match Test series in 2024 is as rare as they come. England's red-ball tour of India, which begins on Thursday, is therefore significant not only because it offers fans a "traditional" full-length series, but also because it will be the biggest test of their eye-catching "Bazball" approach to Test cricket.

India vs England: RCB Star Replaces Virat Kohli In Test Squad For First Two Matches, Says Report

The news of Virat Kohli's sudden withdrawal from the first Two Tests against England left all the fans utterly shocked. As per the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kohli has cited 'personal reasons' for skipping the first two matches. As the first Test will kick-start from Thursday in Hyderabad, everyone is eagerly waiting to see that who will be replacing the star India batter in the squad. As per reports, Royal Challengers Bangalore star Rajat Patidar has been picked to replace Kohli in the Indian squad for the first two matches.

"Virat Kohli Back To...": Ex-India Star's Big Warning To England Ahead Of Test Series

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has warned England regarding the form of star batter Virat Kohli ahead of a five-match Test series, starting January 25. Irfan feels Kohli is back to his best, having shown great composure during the Test series against South Africa recently. The former India captain fought a lone battle in the first Test in December 2023, but the visitors lost the game by a hefty margin. He also scored a 46 on a trick pitch in the second Test which ended inside two days in Cape Town.

"Play With His Ego...": Ex-England Star's 'Choker' Advice For Dismissing Virat Kohli

Former England cricket team spinner Monty Panesar believes that England cricketers should sledge Virat Kohli and try to 'mentally pinch' him in the upcoming Test series in India starting January 25. India and England will play five Test matches and Kohli is expected to play a huge role in determining the result of the series. In a recent interaction, Panesar said that England bowlers need to play with Kohli's ego and sledge him on the lines of India being 'chokers' when it comes to international competitions.