I want this young Indian team to do is carry on the legacy of Virat Kohli: Monty Panesar

Published - 09 Jun 2025, 17:09 IST | Updated - 09 Jun 2025, 17:23 IST

Shubman Gill is set to begin his journey as India's Test captain during the five-match Test series against England. This will be India's first assignment since the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The team will also miss the services of Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket midway through the Border-Gavaskar series.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar wants the young Indian team to carry on with the legacy of Kohli in the red-ball format.

“The one thing that I want this Indian team to do is carry on the legacy of Virat Kohli. The way he played Test cricket. I would like to see the young Indian team play like that," Panesar told InsideSport.

The cricketer-turned-expert was also asked whether there was any player in the Indian side who could become the next Virat Kohli. Panesar picked Sai Sudharsan, who received his maiden Test call-up last month, as the next superstar of Indian cricket, highlighting his fearless approach and experience of playing in English conditions during his stints with Surrey.

“Yeah, there are some really good youngsters in the team at the moment, and one particular batsman is the Surrey player. He played for Surrey as an overseas – Sai Sudharsan. He looks very aggressive; he looks fearless; he’s a player who has done well in English conditions, and he has done well for Surrey. So I think he could be the next superstar of Indian cricket and take on that role of what Virat Kohli did at No. 4," Panesar stated.

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Sudharsan, who is likely to make his Test debut as a No. 3 batter, has 1957 runs to his name in 29 first-class matches played so far. However, he could face stiff competition for a spot in the side from Abhimanyu Easwaran, who scored a fluent 80 while batting at No. 3 for India A against England Lions in the second unofficial Test at Northampton on Sunday, June 8.