English fast bowler James Anderson was upset that Virat Kohli wasn't in the current Test series against India. He also said that Kohli was very talented and thanked the Indian team's former leader.

Since Virat Kohli withdrew from the series to be with his actress wife Anushka Sharma, the couple recently welcomed their second child, Akaay, they have not been a part of the Indian national cricket squad. Akaay is the couple's second child. After dating for a number of years, Kohli and Anushka finally tied the knot in 2017, and they welcomed their daughter Vamika into the world in January of 2021.

But even though India won the series, James Anderson said he missed the chance to play his longtime rival. “It’s been a shame that he’s not been a part of the series,” Anderson said.

Anderson did say, though, that English fans would be glad Kohli didn't play in the games. “Yeah, you always want to play against the best players. And it’s been a shame that he’s not been a part of the series. We have had some great battles over the years. But not just for me, I think as a team you want to play against the best in the world and he certainly is that,” Anderson said on JioCinema.

“I guess English fans will be thankful he’s not playing because he’s such a quality player. But from our point of view you want to test yourself, you want to come up against the best and he’s been someone who I’ve found really challenging to bowl at over the years and it’s a shame he’s not been playing,” Anderson added.