Joe Root shuns off Virat Kohli, claims he was never a competitor

England batter Joe Root made a huge statement on former India skipper Virat Kohli ahead of the highly anticipated five-match Test series, set to commence on Friday, June 20. Root said that he never viewed Virat Kohli as a rival despite the frequent comparisons between them as part of the 'Fab Four'.

Virat Kohli recently retired from Test cricket and will not feature in the Test series against England, led by Ben Stokes. Kohli and Joe Root have been key figures for their countries. Their relentless run-scoring and consistent performances often drew comparisons from fans and experts alike.

I’ve Never Been in Competition with Virat Kohli - Joe Root

Joe Root shared his admiration for Virat Kohli, saying he never considered the former India captain a rival. Root stated that their on-field battles will be missed but added that Kohli’s retirement opens the door for emerging players.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

“I’ve never been in competition with Virat. He is someone I’ve always admired, and thought, ‘Wow, what a player’. I’ll miss those battles we had on the field, but it provides opportunities for other players to try and put their mark on Test cricket,” Root said in a media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network (via The Hindu).

Slightly Different Look to the Series Without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - Joe Root

Joe Root said that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have contributed to the team over the years. Root stated that the upcoming series would have a different feel without them but expects it to remain fiercely competitive.

“Cricket is poorer without them being around. They are two Indian legends. They’ve done amazing things for Indian cricket for such a long period of time. It’ll be a slightly different look to the series, but we still expect it to be highly competitive,” Root added.

England are set to take on a revamped Indian side in the opening Test at Headingley, Leeds. With Rohit Sharma retiring from the format, Shubman Gill has taken over as captain, while Rishabh Pant has been named vice-captain.

India have also made key changes to their batting lineup. Sai Sudharsan has received his first Test call-up, and Karun Nair has been recalled after a seven-year absence. India will begin their 2025–27 World Test Championship campaign.

Virat Kohli's Performances for Team India in Test Cricket

Virat Kohli made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies. He played 123 Tests and scored 9,230 runs in 210 innings at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, with a highest score of 254 not out.

However, Kohli’s performance in Test cricket began to decline after 2019. His long-standing issues outside the off-stump were exposed, especially in overseas conditions.

Kohli played his final Test series in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. He managed 190 runs in five matches, including a century in the opening Test at Perth. However, he couldn’t replicate that form in the remainder of the series.

Also read: Harshit Rana's Gautam Gambhir connection lands him a questionable spot in India squad vs England