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As India prepares for a crucial five-Test tour of England in June 2025, England batter Ollie Pope has shared candid thoughts about the young Indian Test team, now under the leadership of Shubman Gill.
Ollie Pope points out what Shubman Gill’s Team India will lack most during England series
While acknowledging the depth and talent in the current Indian squad, Pope emphasized that Virat Kohli‘s absence, both as a player and as a psychological presence, will be deeply felt. Kohli, who recently retired from Test cricket alongside Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, was known not just for his batting prowess but also for his animated presence in the field, especially in the slip cordon.
Pope reflected on how Kohli often used his sharp tongue and confident demeanor to get under the skin of English batters, describing his aura as something ‘intimidating,’ and energizing for the Indian side. Speaking to talkSPORT cricket, Pope said:
“It’s a young team, but these Indian players have got so much depth and talent. Shubman Gill, their new captain, is a fantastic player. They will miss the aura of Virat Kohli standing at slips and chirping away. But they’ve got some good talent, so they will feel confident. But our players are ready for it,” Pope said.
This series marks a turning point in Indian Test cricket, as Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant step up to lead a team that’s now devoid of some of its most experienced figures. Kohli and Rohit had been central to India’s success across formats for more than a decade. Kohli, in particular, played a defining role in India’s last tour of England, where under his leadership India won two of the first four Tests before losing the rescheduled final Test under Jasprit Bumrah in 2022. With the absence of such senior figures, the spotlight is now firmly on Gill and his youthful unit to create their own legacy.
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Pope eyes India series as perfect Ashes preparation against Australia
Pope, who scored a commanding 171 against Zimbabwe in an one-off Test earlier this month, is further eyeing the India series as the perfect build-up to the Ashes in Australia later this year. He admitted that playing against a top-tier side like India provides England a better sense of where they stand.
“It’s a great time for us to play India. Last summer, we had the West Indies and Sri Lanka, but with India coming over, the level of quality they bring is a great way for us to focus and prepare. Once the Ashes come around, it will be exciting,” Pope concluded.
However, Pope himself has much to prove. Despite being a regular fixture in England’s middle order, his Test record against India has been underwhelming. Across 13 Tests, he has scored 615 runs at an average of just 24.60, including just one century the memorable 196 in Hyderabad during England’s lone win in their 2024 tour of India. Outside that knock, he’s managed only one other fifty, putting his position under scrutiny. His recent performances in the T20 Blast have not done much to solidify his spot either, especially with Jacob Bethell returning to the Test squad.
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