"Life doesn't stop"- Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli's absence vs England

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra opened up about senior batter Virat Kohli‘s absence from the ongoing Test series against England. Aakash Chopra stated that Virat Kohli would have dominated against England’s ordinary bowling in the first two Test matches.

Virat Kohli opted out of the first two Test matches due to personal reasons and continues to remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series. This marks the first time in his 13-year international career that the 35-year-old will miss an entire Test series.

We Are Feeling Virat Kohli’s Absence A Lot – Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra addressed concerns about whether Kohli’s absence would affect India‘s chances in the series. Chopra acknowledged the impact of Kohli’s absence but remained optimistic about India’s ability to perform.

“I won’t go that far. Let’s be honest, life doesn’t stop because of someone coming or going. Life must go on, the show must go on. We are feeling Kohli’s absence a lot, I will be very honest,” Chopra said.

The ongoing five-match series between England and India stands at 1-1. England clinched the first Test by 28 runs, and India responded with a 106-run victory. The upcoming third match holds crucial significance for both sides to extend their lead in the series.

Virat Kohli Would Have Scored At Least One 150 – Aakash Chopra

The former India opener admitted that Kohli’s absence was felt during the initial matches. Chopra suggested that Kohli could have capitalized on the bowling standards and conditions to score at least one 150 in the first two Test matches.

“Considering the bowling standards and the sort of pitch that was there in Vizag and when we got to bat for the first time in Hyderabad, Kohli would have scored at least one 150 in the two matches because he wouldn’t have stopped against this ordinary bowling, in which Rehan Ahmed gets bored,” Chopra added.

Kohli Wouldn’t Have Also Given You His Wicket – Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted Virat Kohli’s ability to exploit the perceived weaknesses in England’s bowling attack. Chopra noted that Kohli wouldn’t hesitate to dominate the England bowlers.

“He said he would rather get hit for four boundaries. Kohli would have hit you for four boundaries and wouldn’t have also given you his wicket. Whether it’s Shoaib Bashir, Jack Leach or Tom Hartley, when Virat Kohli sees such a bowling attack, he says he won’t score 50-70 but 150-200. That is why he is different from others,” Chopra further stated.

The former Indian skipper has scored 1991 runs in 28 Tests against England at an average of 42.36, featuring five centuries and nine fifties. Notably, in home Tests, the right-handed batter has scored over 1015 runs in 13 matches, at an impressive average of 56.38.

The Delhi-born cricketer is expected to be seen in action next during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He will aim to excel in the event in preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in June.

Also read: AB de Villiers makes a U-Turn on Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s second child remark