“Virat Kohli, the nation needs you” - Shashi Tharoor is missing former Indian captain on England tour

Shashi Tharoor, the senior Indian politician and Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, took to X (Formerly Twitter) to disclose that he has been missing the Indian talismanic batter Virat Kohli a few times in the ongoing five-match Test series against England.

In his tweet, Tharoor added that Kohli’s grit, intensity, and his inspirational presence on the field could’ve changed the outcome of the five-Test series. He further asked if it would be too late to call him out of retirement from the longest format of the game.

Notably, Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from the Test format just before the squad announcement for the England tour in the new World Test Championship cycle. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, was quick to announce Shubman Gill as the new Test captain for the tour.

“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,” wrote Tharoor in a post on his X account.

https://x.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1952038774361501948

Tharoor’s tweet came during Joe Root and Harry Brook’s gigantic 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which changed the course of the game towards England. While Root scored 105 runs in 152 balls with 12 fours, Brook hit 111 runs in 98 balls with 14 fours and two sixes to turn the tables.

With Jamie Smith (2*) and Jamie Overton (0*) at the crease, England requires 35 more runs on the fifth and final day of the Oval Test to win the game and seal the series 3-1. While Prasidh Krishna scalped three important wickets, Mohammed Siraj could pick two and Akash Deep pocketed one wicket.

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