Indian legend Virat Kohli has been hailed as “one of the greatest” batsmen to play Test cricket by England’s top pacer James Anderson. On May 12, the right-handed batter used to social media to announce his retirement.

The right-arm bowler believed that India had a vast pool of talent that might step in to take over when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli depart. Over the years, the England icon and Kohli engaged in an epic rivalry. The batsman fell to the pacer seven times while scoring 305 runs at a remarkable average of 43.57 in 36 innings.

“Excellent athletes. Sharma has retired, thus a new captain will take over. One of the best Test batsmen in history is Virat Kohli. They have a lot of skill in their squad, but they have enormous shoes to fill. All you need to do is watch the IPL. Anderson was reported by NDTVSports as saying, “They are bringing players from the IPL who are just so attacking, aggressive, and fearless into Test cricket now.”

India will be a formidable obstacle: James Anderson

A five-match Test series between India and England is scheduled to start in Leeds on June 20. The 42-year-old acknowledged that the England players will face a difficult task against the visitors. He added that it is critical to have some momentum in the setup because the Ashes is approaching.

“With the Ashes approaching, it’s a big year, but it’s crucial to start moving forward. When I reflect on my career, I believe that this occurred too frequently. Eighteen months after an Ashes, the players and management began to focus on that and truly forget what was in front of them. Even at home, India will be a very difficult opponent. They’re a powerful side,” he continued.