ENG vs IND 2025: ‘The nation needs you’ – Shashi Tharoor rues Virat Kohli’s absence in Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

Virat Kohli, the famous cricketer, announced his retirement from the longest format on May 12, startling his billions of admirers worldwide. He wasn’t enjoying much success in Test cricket, but no one expected him to retire at the age of 36.

Shubman Gill has taken Kohli’s No. 4 slot in the batting order and done an outstanding job, finishing as the highest run-scorer in the five-match series. The 25-year-old scored 754 runs in ten innings, at an average of 75.40. However, players such as Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair have fallen short of their full potential.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stated that he is missing Kohli in the five-match Test series, particularly in the ongoing fifth and final match at The Oval in London. On the challenging surface, most Indian hitters have struggled to convert their beginnings into large runs.

Tharoor believes Virat Kohli may have made a difference if he had been out in the middle.

“I’ve been missing @imVkohli a few times during this series, but never as much as in this Test match. His grit and intensity, his inspirational presence in the field, not to mention his abundant batting skills, might have led to a different outcome. Is it too late to call him out of retirement? Virat, the nation needs you! #INDvsENG,” Tharoor wrote in a post on his official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) account.