'He gets that intensity going' - Sanjay Manjrekar's take on Virat Kohli's absence from England Tests

In the ongoing Test series between India and England, the absence of Virat Kohli has noticeably weakened India's batting order, according to cricket pundits Sanjay Manjrekar and Dinesh Karthik. Kohli's absence not only affected India's batting line-up but also deprived the team of his ability to rally the crowd behind them during tough moments, as noted by thee duo on air.

During Day 2 of the ongoing Ranchi Test, England - led by Ollie Robinson (58) and Joe Root (122*), enjoyed a dominant phase of play despite India's efforts to turn the tide with the new ball. Robinson's impressive half-century alongside Root's well-set century highlighted England's comfort at the crease, as they resumed on their overnight score of 302 for 7. Manjrekar's observations reflect the significance of Kohli's leadership and crowd-rousing capabilities, which are missed by the Indian team as they navigate through challenging phases in the series.

“Virat Kohli is one of those guys. If the fielders are quiet, he’ll get the crowd to back the players and bring energy. When Kohli is out on the field, he gets that intensity going. India are missing him. There’s no one quite like him. He carries that energy,” said Manrjekar as quoted by News18.

England dismantles India’s middle order as Kohli is missed

The 35-year-old's absence from the entire five-match Test series against England stemmed from personal reasons, as announced by the BCCI. Initially named in the squad for the first two games, the star India batter withdrew from the series just before the opener and later opted out of the remaining three Tests due to becoming a father for the second time.

England gained an unexpected lead in the series by clinching victory in the Hyderabad Test within four days. However, India swiftly countered, triumphing in Vizag before securing a monumental 434-run win in Rajkot, thus claiming a 2-1 lead. The fourth Test commenced in Ranchi on Friday, with England electing to bat first and being bowled out for 353 in their first innings. They have a tight grip on the fourth Test, as seven Indian batters have walked back to the pavilion with just 219 runs on board.

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