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"India Needs A Kohli Against England" Ravi Shastri's Blunt Message For Shubman Gill

Anurag Dasgupta

Shastri on Kohli ]Source; @RCBXTRAOFFICIA/x.com] Shastri on Kohli ]Source; @RCBXTRAOFFICIA/x.com]

Day 5 of a Test match and England going for the target sounds like it has happened before on the previous tour in 2021. However, the biggest difference between that tour and the current crop of Indian players is the missing name on the Indian team sheet - Virat Kohli. The former India captain was always in your face of the England players and used to go to war against them.

Shastri's ultimate praise for Virat Kohli

However, the current Indian stars lack the firepower as they aim to defend 371 against England on Day 5 of the Headingley Test match. While the Indian batting has looked good in the ongoing Test, their bowling faltered in the first innings and former India coach, Ravi Shastri believes that Shubman Gill, the India captain needs a Virat Kohli in the side to stop England.

Shastri, while on air spoke about India's chances to stop England from chasing 371 and he reckoned that the team needs a Virat Kohli type of character, who can be aggressive against the England batters.

"India needs someone to do a Kohli job, someone who can be right at the face of the opposition. Someone has to be designated or given that role. There's not a single guy who can do it at the moment, Kohli could do it for three people. Hence, two people could be designated to do that job against England," Shastri said on air.

How Kohli's 60 overs of hell statement tormented England

In the Lord's Test in 2021, England needed 272 runs in 60 overs to seal the win. However, before their innings could commence, Kohli, the then India captain gave a pep talk in the huddle where he urged his teammates to give the English players "hell for 60 overs." This became an iconic statement as the hosts truly were dismantled by India.

The Indian bowlers were pumped up after the statement as Kohli's aggression combined with the charged up Indian bowling demolished England and won the game by 151 runs.