Moeen Ali, the former England all-rounder, believes that the England team has a good chance of winning against a weakened Indian squad in the upcoming Test series. With the recent retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Moeen thinks India will have a tough time on their tour to England. Rohit retired last week and Kohli followed soon after, putting an end to the uncertainty surrounding their future.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Moeen said that not having Rohit and Kohli will really help England. He mentioned their past experiences on English soil, recalling their highs and lows. Kohli had a rough series in 2014 but did much better in 2018, while Rohit delivered a standout performance during India’s 2021 tour.
Moeen remembered how Rohit performed well in the last series in England, scoring a total of 368 runs at an average of 52.57 in four matches. He noted that both Rohit and Kohli were key players and leaders for India, so their absence is a big loss for the team.
As a former teammate of Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Moeen called Kohli’s retirement a major setback for Test cricket, recognizing him as a player who always promoted the format.
He compared Kohli’s influence to that of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, saying that Kohli has made a huge impact on the game, especially in India. After Sachin, he was the player everyone wanted to see. He filled stadiums and had an amazing record. His competitive style and leadership were exceptional. His retirement is a real hit for Test cricket, Moeen added.