India's middle-order batting not quite ready for life without Kohli

In less than a fortnight, the national selectors will pick the squad for a five-Test tour of England.

- Rasesh Mandani

MUMBAI: The Indian team will begin life after Rohit Sharma, their recently retired Test captain. Few would have thought they would have to contemplate getting accustomed to life after Virat Kohli too in the same series. Kohli, the finest Indian batter in the post-Tendulkar decade, especially in Test cricket, is contemplating retirement.

Kohli has not made it official yet. It is understood that the chief selector Ajit Agarkar will be speaking to him before picking the team. The selection room is known to be supportive of Kohli playing more Test cricket. The decision makers are known to have a distinctly different outlook on Kohli as opposed to Rohit, even though both the leading batters have been short of runs lately. Beyond the fact that Kohli, 36, is two years that Rohit, his fitness routines have been uncompromising. The batting star is still an asset on the field.

Few can point a finger at why Kohli wants to quit. He played a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi after the Australian tour. He also spent time working on his red-ball game with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar. Has the leading Indian batter of the generation lost the drive to score, or lost his determination to battle it out?