EXCLUSIVE
Kevin Pietersen: Not even David Beckham knows what it is like to walk in Virat Kohli’s shoes and this is what his absence means for England
India will be without their biggest player for the opening two Tests against England - but Virat Kohli is so much more than a star batter, insists Kevin Pietersen.
Cricket is a religion in India, most of the 1.4billion population are obsessed with the sport and its protagonists are among the most famous people in the country.
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Kohli is the well-established heir to Sachin Tendulkar's crown as the God of Cricket and the 35-year-old is widely considered the greatest batter of his generation.
Like Tendulkar, Kohli is also one of the most recognisable celebrities in India, rubbing shoulders with politicians and Bollywood stars.
He will miss the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons and his absence will be deeply felt, not only on the pitch, but among the tens of thousands in the stands.
According to England legend Pietersen, not even Three Lions icon David Beckham knows what it is like to walk in Kohli's shoes.
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"You guys have covered football for a very long time and you understand the gravitas that a guy like David Beckham has in England," iconic batter Pietersen told talkSPORT.
"Multiply that by a thousand and that's what Kohli's life is like here in India.
"He can't do anything. The biggest stars, the Tendulkars, the Dhonis, the Kohlis, they live a completely different life.
"That weight of expectation of a billion people on his shoulders every single time he steps out in in public is something that he's had to deal with and he's dealt with it remarkably well.
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"It's a big loss for India and it's a big plus for England because where he feels most free is when he bats and that's why he produces the results that he does.
"He goes over the white line and he doesn't have to worry about what he looks like or what he says, he lets his bat do the talking and that's where he feels most free.
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"So for England it's a major plus that he's not playing and it's a huge loss for India, but these guys have got so many young talented players.
"The IPL, over the last 15 or 16 years, has just delivered player after player after player - and so you're gonna see some pretty extraordinary players who aren't necessarily household names for anyone in England yet, but you'll watch these guys play and they can properly play."
England begin their highly-anticipated tour of India with the first of five Tests on Thursday - and every ball of the series will be live on talkSPORT 2 from 4am!
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