FPJ Exclusive: 'They're Performing Better Than If They Had Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli', Says Brad Hogg About Team India Amid IND vs ENG Test Series

Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg stated that he sees several upsides for Team India despite things not quite going their way in the ongoing Test series against England. Ahead of the fourth Test against England in Manchester, beginning on July 23, Hogg said India have performed better than when they had Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in their side.

 Although India lost the first Test by five wickets at Headingley, they bounced back with a historic 336-run victory at Edgbaston to level the series. They also dominated the third Test at Lord’s for the most part but lost by 22 runs on day five despite valiant efforts from Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah to go down 2-1 in the series.

When asked how he sees the Indian team progressing in the next few years, the West Australian said he is not unfazed even if India lose the series and is impressed by how well they have stayed in the contest and taken things down to the wire. The 54-year-old told the Free Press Journal:

"I think it's exciting times and you won the test match without Bumrah in the team as well. So, the one test match you won was without your leading bowler there. And you look at the series back here in Australia, the test match that you won up there in Queensland, it was all youth untested players in your 11. I just think there's so much upside for India moving forward. I wouldn't be too worried about whether you win or lose this particular series."

"What you've got to be looking at is the process, the strategy, the the way that the players are handling the pressure. Yeah, it's phenomenal. So, for me, they've been in close contests. They've taken it right to the wire in every test match. So for me, there's so much upside for the series moving forward.”

"I don't look at the wins" - Brad Hogg

The Aussie said it might be harsh for him to claim India are performing well even without Rohit and Kohli in their ranks but their performances in the last two years reflect it.

"That that's what I look at. I don't look at the wins. I look out the way that they're handling the pressure, the way that they're staying in the contest. I think they're actually performing better than if they had Rohit and Virat Kohli in the team at the moment as well. I know that sounds rude to both Rohit and Virat Kohli, but you've got to move on. Virat and both Rohit haven't really had that much success over the last couple of years.”

Hogg opined that installing a new leadership group has done wonders for the Indian team so far:

"Rohit hasn't performed well outside of India. So, you had to make those changes and they were tough changes. They had to be made. You've gone with new leadership and it's working extremely well right now.”

Published on: Sunday, July 20, 2025, 04:05 PM IST