Absence of Rohit, Virat gives England mental boost: Harmison
New Delhi, Jun 17: With the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the five-match Test series against England undoubtedly marks a new era for the Indian team led by Shubman Gill. Ironically, when India begins their new World Test Championship cycle against England in Leeds on June 20, it coincides with the day Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011.
Steve Harmison, the former England fast bowler, has suggested that the Ben Stokes-led side gains a significant mental edge from the retirement of Rohit and Virat. At the same time, Harmison feels that the stalwart duo’s absence might similarly galvanise the Indian team and push them to play with increased intensity and cohesion.
“I think it gives (England) a mental boost to have no Rohit Sharma and no Virat Kohli. I think even though the two great players possibly weren't the great players they were five to ten years ago, the sight of Virat and Rohit being on a team sheet still holds a lot of weight. So with no great players like those two in the starting eleven, that also sometimes galvanises the team.”
“When great players go out of the team, sometimes it makes the dressing room a little bit easier to be in because you've now got somebody that's going to go out there and score all the runs for you. You're going to have to take some responsibility yourself. So that'll be the challenge from the India team's point of view.”
“From an England point of view, they're not seeing those great players. Yes, it will give them a boost, but it's still going to be a very, very strong India side to play against. "I'm expecting a close series, but I think England are favourites because this series is in England,” said Harmison in an exclusive conversation with IANS, organised by talkSPORT.
While India has the experience of K.L. Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, as well as the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah and the excitement that Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant bring to the table, England are also sporting a youthful look through cricketers like Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, along with Ollie Pope. They also have the experience of Joe Root and the world-class skipper Ben Stokes on the table.
Another factor that has been the talk of the town in England has been the increasingly ongoing dry weather this summer. At Headingley in Leeds, the venue for the series opener, there has hardly been rainy weather this year. Headingley has traditionally been a pacers' paradise, and the choice to bowl first to fully exploit the conditions seems prudent.
