‘Massive Boost For England’: Moeen Ali Reacts to Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli’s Test Retirement Ahead of 2025 Series
Former England cricketer Moeen Ali believes that the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket will serve as a major advantage for England, especially ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against India, scheduled to begin in June 2025.
Both senior Indian batters recently announced their retirement from the longest format, marking the end of an era in Indian Test cricket. With the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 cycle around the corner, the Indian team is expected to embark on a new journey under fresh leadership, though the BCCI has yet to announce the new Test captain.
Moeen Ali: Rohit & Kohli Retirements Are a Big Boost for England
Speaking to Sky Sports, Moeen Ali didn’t hide his delight about the situation.
“Definitely, I think it’s a massive boost for England. Two top players who’ve been to England a few times on tour, so they have the experience. I remember Rohit playing really well the last time they were in England,” he said.
Rohit Sharma was in top form during the 2021-22 England tour, scoring 368 runs, and emerging as India’s highest run-scorer in that series. Moeen praised Rohit’s leadership and ability to thrive in English conditions, something England would now no longer have to deal with.
“The character they have, the leaders they are — both of them have captained India in Test cricket — so yeah, a massive loss for the team,” Moeen added.
Kohli’s Impact on Test Cricket: A “Massive Blow,” Says Moeen
Beyond tactical advantage, Moeen Ali spoke at length about Virat Kohli’s broader influence on Test cricket, calling his departure a significant loss for the format.
“It’s a massive blow to Test cricket. He was the one pioneer, the one guy in Test cricket that always pushed the format. Amazing player, amazing career,” Moeen stated.
He compared Kohli’s presence in world cricket to that of Sachin Tendulkar, suggesting that Kohli had become Test cricket’s biggest crowd-puller after the Little Master.
“He’s done so much for the game itself, especially in India. I think after Sachin, he was the guy everybody comes to watch and he filled out stadiums.”
“The style he played with — very competitive — and a brilliant captain as well. A big blow to Test cricket,” Moeen concluded.
What’s Next for India?
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping aside, Indian Test cricket is set for a transitional phase. The BCCI is expected to name a new Test captain soon, potentially giving a long-term role to someone like Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, or even Shubman Gill, who’s being seen as the future of the Indian batting lineup.
As India prepares for the high-stakes tour of England, all eyes will be on how the team reshapes itself in the absence of two modern-day greats who have defined an era.
