Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s absence was instantly noticeable as the Indian team landed in London on Saturday, greeted by no fans or media at the airport.
Table of Contents
New Era Dawns: India Tours England Without Kohli and Rohit for the First Time Since 2011
For the first time since 2011, the India Test squad touring England does not include Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both senior batters retired from Test cricket last month, paving the way for a new-look side led by Shubman Gill. Their absence was immediately noticeable as the team arrived in London on Saturday — a stark contrast to the bustling, fan-packed arrivals seen previously.
Last November in Adelaide, Kohli’s arrival for the Australia tour was met with massive fanfare and media frenzy, even prompting a closed-door practice session to manage the crowd. However, this time in London, no fans or media greeted the team, a fact highlighted in a viral video by journalist Vimal Kumar, who noted the complete lack of buzz.
While some lamented the retirement of the star duo as the end of an era — fearing it signals a “downfall of Indian Test cricket” — others remain hopeful that Shubman Gill’s leadership and performances will revive the aura and excitement around the traditional format.
0 fans at the Airport for Indian Team
— jaiswalhype (@jaiswalhype19) June 7, 2025
Aura of captain Gill. pic.twitter.com/uSMSCZmuvc
‘No different pressure’
“Pressure is always there in every tour. Definitely, two very experienced players who played for such a long time and won so many times, very difficult to fill their space. But it is not a different kind of pressure, all of us players are used to it,” Gill said during the pre-tour presser on Wednesday.