IND vs ENG: Alastair Cook's big statement on Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma exit - 'Now there's a clean slate in Indian dressing room'

As the Indian cricket team embarks on a new chapter under the leadership of Shubman Gill in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy Test series against England, former England captain Alastair Cook has shared his insights on the impact of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's departure from Test cricket.

Speaking on The Overlap Cricket YouTube channel, Cook suggested that the Indian dressing room is undergoing a reset, encompassing personnel, psychological, and cultural changes. He emphasized that Kohli and Rohit's commanding presence meant their decisions were rarely questioned, regardless of their performance.

Cook noted, "What I can't work out and will find out obviously is by taking those two really experienced players out - Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli - who have been really a bit on the downslide, is the impact they have in the dressing room is now gone."

He further elaborated, "No matter how… when you take senior players out like that, even if they are great leaders, they might get things wrong, but no one is ever questioning those two in that change room. So now there's almost a clean slate."

Kohli and Sharma's exit from Test cricket occurred last month following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where India suffered a 3–1 defeat. Kohli scored 190 runs at an average of 23.75, including a century in the opening Test, while Rohit managed only 31 runs in five innings.

Cook acknowledged India's formidable batting depth despite the absence of the two veterans.

"One thing we know - they're going to be so talented. They could pick, I reckon, 18 batsmen almost of the same quality now. And it'll be really interesting to see whether that talent, without those two there - and I'm not saying they shouldn't be in - can rise to the occasion."

India's revamped team under Gill will face England's aggressive "Bazball" approach in a series that is expected to test their adaptability and temperament.

The first Test commences on Friday at Headingley, marking the beginning of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy era. This series pays tribute to two cricketing legends and signifies a transition between generations.