Ex-England spinner Monty Panesar reflected on the sudden retirement of Virat Kohli from Test cricket, speculating that the Indian batting great might have pulled out of the England tour in June under duress. The much-awaited five-Test series from June 20 will start the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.
Speaking on the matter, Panesar shared that he was surprised to see Kohli step away before such a major series, especially one taking place in England a country where the Indian batter has had both challenges and memorable performances.
According to Panesar, there could be more to the decision regarding this topic as he hinted that team management might have issued a strong message or ultimatum, possibly influencing Kohli’s choice to retire ahead of the tour. While this remains speculative, it adds an intriguing layer to an already dramatic transition within the Indian Test setup.
Looking forward, Panesar believed India had a good chance of performing well in the series, particularly if middle-order batters Karun Nair and Shubman Gill deliver. Following Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Shubman Gill will captain India for the very first time in Test cricket. At 25, Gill has the huge task of leading a comparatively young team and trying to push India to its first Test series victory in England since 2007.
“I think he was definitely going to play. I think England were expecting, everyone was expecting him to play. I’m surprised he’s kind of like bailed out. But maybe the fact that outside off-stump, he’s just thinking, well, you know, they may have had a word with him. They said, look, if you don’t score well in the first couple of Test matches, don’t expect to play all the five. So, he’s probably thinking, well, I’ll just call it a day and give the youngsters a go,” Panesar told Hindustan Times.
“It would depend on how Karun Nair performs, he scored a double-hundred against the England Lions. He and Shubman Gill, that middle-order, how they bat. I think the batters who’ve played county cricket, if they are able to then transform that same form at the international level, then I think India have got a chance to win,” he added.
It is high stakes, and with fresh leadership and a revised batting lineup, the series holds the potential to be a milestone moment for Indian cricket’s new generation.
