Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes that the absence of seasoned campaigners Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will tip the balance in England’s favour in the upcoming five-Test series against India.

The series, a crucial part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle, is scheduled to be played from June 20 to August 4 across iconic English venues, Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord’s and The Oval (London), and Old Trafford (Manchester).

India will be stepping into their first bilateral Test series since the retirement of their batting stalwarts, Rohit and Kohli, who hung up their whites in May, just over a month before the high-stakes England tour.