IND vs ENG: Three players who can be named as Virat Kohli's replacement for first two Test vs England

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IND vs ENG: India dealt with a major after Virat Kohli made himself unavailable for the first two Test matches against England due to personal reasons. The BCCI confirmed the development through an official release on Monday, January 22.

The absence of Virat Kohli makes the Indian middle-order vulnerable. The star batter is on the cusp of breaking Sunil Gavaskar's (1331) record for most runs against England in home Test matches. Kohl (1015) needs just eight runs to climb to the second spot by going past Gundappa Viswanath's tally of 1022 runs.

The selectors need to find a replacement who can provide solidity to the India batting unit on Indian rank-turners. Here are the best three options who can replace Virat Kohli in the India squad for the first two Test matches against England.

Cheteshwar Pujara: The out-of-favour Test specialist is currently the leading run-scorer in Ranji Trophy 2023-24. Pujara, who was dropped after India's defeat in the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023, has scored 444 runs in three matches, including a double hundred in the first match against Jharkhand.

Getting back the trusted India number three for the crucial series has a couple of benefits. He brings with him loads of experience which India would need in Kohli's absence. Also, he has a terrific record against England at home, and in home Test matches in general.

The 35-year-old has scored 3839 runs in 51 Test matches in India at an average of 52.58. He is India's fourth-highest run-scorer against England at home. Pujara has scored 972 runs in 13 home Test matches against England at an average of 51.15 and a highest score of 206 unbeaten runs.

In total, he has hit four hundreds and two fifties in home Test matches against England. Mohammad Azharuddin is the only batter who has hit four Test hundreds against England in India.

Rajat Patidar: The Madhya Pradesh batter recently made his ODI debut in South Africa, and has all the qualities to serve the Indian Test team for a long time. The 30-year-old right-hand batter scored 33 runs off 67 balls in India A's draw match in South Africa.

He grabbed attention in England A's ongoing tour of India. He smashed a hundred in the tour game before following it up with another hundred in the 1st Unofficial Test.

The top-order batter has got solid technique and a tremendous record in first-class cricket where he has scored 4000 runs at an average of 45.97. Patidar has hit 12 hundreds and 22 fifties in first-class cricket.

Mayank Agarwal: The India opener has smashed back-to-back hundreds in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023-24. The Karnataka captain has scored 242 runs in three matches at an average of 48.40.

After registering ducks in both the innings of the first match against Punjab. He hit a hundred in the first innings against Gujarat, and then followed it up with another hundred against Goa.

The 32-year-old is a domestic cricket veteran now. He has scored 7362 runs in 97 first-class matches at an average of 46.01. He has 17 hundreds and 39 fifties in first-class cricket. He finished as the leading run-scorer in Ranji Trophy 2022-23 season, and looks in the zone once again.

Agarwal did decently well in Test cricket before being dropped from the squad after March 2022. In 21-Test career, the right-hander has scored 1488 runs (4 hundred, 6 fifties) at an average of 41.33. He is raring for an opportunity, and given a chance would look to grab it with both his hands.

Note: In case Pujara or Agarwal are included, they he can be made to bat at three, with Shubman Gill batting at number four.