(Video) Ravi Shastri Wanted Someone from India to Take Up Virat Kohli’s Aggression in ‘Do-or-Die’ Day 5 of First Test Against England

India's five-wicket loss to England in the first Test underscores the team's lack of an aggressive yet inspriational figure like Virat Kohli.

(Video) Ravi Shastri Wanted Someone from India to Take Up Virat Kohli’s Aggression in ‘Do-or-Die’ Day 5 of First Test Against England

Ravi Shastri stated that Team India missed Virat Kohli's aggression in the opening Test against England. (via Hindustan Times)

Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri suggested that India were missing out on Virat Kohli’s aggression, during the series opener of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Headingley, Leeds. Shastri suggested that it was most necessary, during India’s bowling against England. 

While England have emerged victorious in the opening match of the five-match Test series, the Men in Blue seemed to have gotten off to a decent start in a new era, under captain Shubman Gill. India posted 471 in their first innings, with centuries coming from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Gill, and Rishabh Pant. In the second innings, KL Rahul and Pant, managed to guide the team to a competitive total of 364 runs.

However, despite an impressive batting, India’s bowling and fielding performance fell short of the mark, as they struggled to contain England. The Three Lions nearly matched India’s first innings total of 471 runs, falling just six runs short.

Jasprit Bumrah was the team’s only standout bowler, finishing with an exceptional spell of 5/83. In the second innings, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur each picked up two wickets, but it came in a losing cause.

As England pursued a 371-run target on the final day, former Team India star-commentator Ravi Shastri stated that the team lacked a crucial element. While Indian bowlers struggled, Shastri remarked that the Men in Blue needed someone to take up Virat Kohli’s role, and play mind games with the opponents. He asserted that the team felt the absence of Kohli’s aggressive mindset and on-field approach, which often proved crucial in turning the tide.

Shastri explained that the former Indian captain had a unique ability to “get in the face” of opponents, challenging and taunting them to break their morale. Virat Kohli’s fiery demeanor was particularly evident during the 2021 Lord’s Test against England. He engaged in heated exchanges with James Anderson, Jos Buttler, and Ollie Robinson, often celebrating intensely to provoke them.

Someone should do a [Virat] Kohli right in the face of opposition, I dont think there is someone who can do that. Kohli would have done the job of 3 people. – Ravi Shastri while commentating (H/T NDTV Sports)

Kohli had a longstanding rivalry with former Australian pacer, Mitchell Johnson, even facing ICC penalties for their on-field clashes. Fans last witnessed his fiery passion during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he had an altercation with young Australian opener Sam Konstas. Soon after, on May 12, 2025, Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, leaving a significant void in the Indian team.

Although Shubman Gill has stepped into Virat Kohli’s no. 4 batting position for India, he is yet to assume the influential role the 36-year-old held in red-ball cricket. The 36-year-old still remains India’s most successful Test captain, boasting a remarkable 40 wins at a success rate of 58.8 percent.

Rewind to Virat Kohli’s Iconic Lord’s Speech: The Spark Before India’s 2021 Triumph Over England

Shubman Gill’s team speech before the final day of the India-England opening Test evoked memories of Virat Kohli’s impactful address at Lord’s, back in 2021. The Men in Blue went on to secure an impressive 151-run victory over England, marking one of Indian cricket’s most iconic overseas Test wins.

Virat Kohli 2021 Lord's speech
Virat Kohli’s 2021 Lord’s speech, helped guide India to a famous Test victory over England. (via AP7AM)

Kohli’s aggressive and assertive captaincy, combined with stellar batting and bowling displays from the other players, culminated in a decisive win for the Indian side. Moreover, just as the Indian team stepped onto the pitch on the final day, Kohli issued a ’war cry’, delivering a memorable team speech, urging his players to “rain hell” on the English batters for the final 60 overs, at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. 

Virat Kohli’s inspiring speech seemingly boosted the Indian bowlers’, including Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah’s morale, who then exhibited remarkable grit. Subsequently, no English batter managed to score above 35 runs, four were dismissed for ducks, as India restricted the home side to a mere 120 runs.