E2BET: Gautam Gambhir: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir once praised former skipper MS Dhoni for backing Virat Kohli despite the dismal 2014 tour of England. Gambhir’s remarks came in 2020 when Kohli had established himself as India’s Test batter.
Gautam Gambhir: Yet, despite his incredible overall Test record, the 2014 series in England remains the one major blemish in Kohli’s illustrious career. Still in his mid-20s, Kohli had just become a regular in the Indian Test side.
Gautam Gambhir: He had a series to forget with the bat in the five-Test series in England in 2014, averaging a dismal 13.40 in 10 innings. Yet, Dhoni backed Kohli by including him in the XI in the subsequent Test series.
Gautam Gambhir: Recalling Kohli’s struggles in England in 2014, six years later, Gambhir told Star Sports (via Times Now):
“The sort of series it was in 2014, even I was there on that tour. You have to give credit to MS Dhoni because a lot of careers have ended after such a series, especially in one format. But he gave that kind of security to Virat Kohli plus his own eagerness.”
Gautam Gambhir: Kohli’s struggles played a massive role in India losing 1-3 to England in 2014. However, the champion batter responded a few months later in a four-Test series in Australia, scoring 692 runs at an average of 86.50 with four centuries.
Gautam Gambhir: Virat Kohli’s fourth Test tour to England in jeopardy amid retirement rumors
Navjot Singh Sidhu emphasizes the importance of Virat Kohli’s presence as India prepares for the England challenge. 🙌🇮🇳#TeamIndia #ViratKohli #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/l3hlUQaRM3
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) May 11, 2025
Virat Kohli has reportedly informed the BCCI about his wish to retire from Test cricket ahead of the five-match series against England next month. However, the board has requested the veteran batter to reconsider his decision.
Kohli has been a part of India’s last three Test tours to England in 2014, 2018, and 2021/22. The 36-year-old overcame his disastrous 2014 series with stellar performances in 2018.
Overall, Kohli has scored 1,096 runs in 17 Tests in England at an average of 33.21 with two centuries and five half-centuries. The right-hander boasts an excellent overall Test record with over 9,000 runs at an average of almost 47 in 123 matches.
Yet, his record Test numbers do not make for pretty reading, with an average of 22.47 in his last 10 matches.
