"Either they stay the whole tour or we come back for 25 days as well" - When Virat Kohli slammed England for taking a month-long break in 2016

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli enjoyed several intense on-field battles in Tests against England in his illustrious career. The 36-year-old also engaged in several intense off-field battles with the England side in his Test career, one of which came in 2016.

England toured India for five Tests, followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is from December 2016 to February 2017. However, the visitors received a 25-day break between the Test and the ODI series to return home for Christmas.

While the final day of the fifth Test was scheduled for December 20, the ODI series was to begin only on January 15.

The favorable scheduling for England did not go well with Kohli, who minced no words when asked about the same in the press conference between the second and third Tests.

"We should come back for a month as well from England. No point we play there for three-and-a-half months and everything we do is in the media's eyes, even our off time is scanned. I don't have any news of them enjoying their holiday in Dubai at all. I would like to see the same thing happen. Either they stay the whole tour or we come back for 25 days as well," he said (via India Today).

Despite the unusual scheduling, England endured a forgettable tour of India, losing all three series. Team India won the five-Test series by a 4-0 margin, followed by 2-1 victories in the three-match ODI and T20I affairs.

Virat Kohli will not be part of India's upcoming Test tour of England

India will be without Virat Kohli in a Test series in England for the first time since 2011. [Credit: Getty]

Cut to the present, and Virat Kohli will not be touring England with the Indian side for the five-Test series, starting June 20. The 36-year-old announced his retirement from the Test format last month, leaving a massive hole in the Indian batting lineup.

Kohli was part of the Indian Test side in their previous three England tours in 2014, 2018, and 2021/22, leading them in the latter two. While they lost the first two convincingly, the 2021-22 series ended in a 2-2 draw.

Skipper Rohit Sharma also retired from Tests a week before Kohli announced his retirement, resulting in India appointing Shubman Gill as their Test captain. The upcoming five-match series marks the start of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) for Team India.