• News
  • Sports News
  • Cricket News
  • India vs England: Geoffrey Boycott says 'Rohit Sharma won't be missed as much as Virat Kohli', urges England to tone down Bazball

India vs England: Geoffrey Boycott says 'Rohit Sharma won't be missed as much as Virat Kohli', urges England to tone down Bazball

Geoffrey Boycott believes Virat Kohli's Test retirement is a bigger blow to India than Rohit Sharma's, citing Kohli's consistent performance and talismanic presence. Boycott urges England to temper their "Bazball" approach, emphasizing the importance of winning over entertaining, especially against a transitioning Indian team. He cautions England against overconfidence despite their recent win.
India vs England: Geoffrey Boycott says 'Rohit Sharma won't be missed as much as Virat Kohli', urges England to tone down Bazball
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (AFP Photo)
As India gear up for their five-Test series against England beginning June 20 in Leeds, former England great Geoffrey Boycott has weighed in strongly on the absence of two Indian stalwarts - Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli - calling Kohli’s retirement a bigger blow.In his column for The Daily Telegraph, Boycott wrote, “The retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma hurts the chances of India beating England. Kohli is the biggest loss as he has been their best batsman and talisman in all three formats.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While acknowledging Rohit’s contributions, Boycott said the former captain “won’t be missed as much as Kohli,” citing Rohit’s inconsistent Test form in the last couple of years. “Rohit was never a natural athlete like Kohli... the wear and tear of opening the innings and being captain in all three formats wore him down,” he added.
Poll
Who do you think will be missed more in the Indian lineup against England?
Both players retired from Test cricket in May, leaving significant voids in India’s lineup - particularly in the top order and at No. 4.Turning attention to the hosts, Boycott had a word of caution for Ben Stokes and Co., fresh off a Test win over Zimbabwe. He warned that England must moderate their aggressive "Bazball" approach if they are to dominate a transition-phase Indian team.
The making of Dhruv Jurel: Kargil war hero's son who chose cricket over the Army
“England should beat India if they temper Bazball and use some common sense,” Boycott wrote. “It’s no use telling us how good you are when you haven’t made a single WTC final at home. They should be embarrassed.”Calling England a "one-trick-pony," Boycott urged, “Being a winner is better than being known as an entertainer... Bring your best game and apply some cricket nous.”
author
About the Author
TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article
Follow Us On Social Media