AUS vs IND: Will India miss Virat Kohli in the Test series against Australia?
After an entertaining IPL season, the Indian players move towards one of the most anticipated series of their international season, that is the tour to Australia. With a lot of players in spectacular form in the IPL, India can hope to have a successful limited-overs leg. However, the primary attraction whenever India tours Australia is the Test series. India’s skipper and best batsman, Virat Kohli is not going to be the present for the last 3 of the 4 Tests due to personal reasons. So, will India miss Kohli?
New challenges
Winning Tests on tours is always challenging for any team. The conditions are vastly different, the crowds are hostile and it takes some serious effort to get any kind of momentum. India has been a team that hasn’t travelled well historically. With superstars in both the sides, and India’s dismal overseas record, India vs Australia in Australia has always been more of an underdog story, and when India managed to win the 2018-2019 series, it was considered to be one of the greatest achievements for Indian cricket. But the scenario is much different now. With Steve Smith and David Warner coming back into the team, it becomes way harder for India to get past the Aussies. Virat’s absence will hurt them immensely. Here is why.
Kohli’s excellent record in Australia
Last time @imVkohli played a Test at the Adelaide Oval, this happened…
?#AUSvIND First Test starts tomorrow on #FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/oeocuy0Fa8
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 5, 2018
Virat Kohli the batsman has been a standout performer in overseas tours. In 2018, Virat scored heavily in South Africa, England and Australia. Amongst all nations, he loves playing in Australia. He has six 100s in Australia, with 4 of them coming in 2014 in a historic season. Even on the last tour, he scored 282 runs which included a scintillating ton at Perth, which is regarded to be one of his best tons. Kohli has this innate ability to absorb pressure in crunch situations in Tests. He has often had to come out to bat early after the dismissal of openers and done a remarkable job for quite some time now.
India will definitely miss his experience and prowess in the middle order and his ability to defend and counter-attack in equal measure. As a result, someone like Shubman Gill might have to be slotted in at 4. While Gill is no doubt one of the most promising young batsmen around, it will be extremely challenging for him to fill in the massive boots. The whole line up is bound to lose a bit of confidence.
Kohli – the captain
Virat Kohli the captain is going to be missed as much if not more. He is also someone who loves giving it back to the opposition. Australia has always been an aggressive team, not just with the bat, but verbally as well. Under Kohli, India became a team which wasn’t afraid to go after the opposition and that gave the unit confidence as a whole. In Kohli’s absence, the team lacks a powerful, aggressive leader who can be instrumental in putting the opposition under pressure just through his on-field antics.
Ajinkya Rahane, who is most likely going to take over from Virat Kohli, is a brilliant statesmanlike figure. He likes to let just his bat do the talking, and remains unfazed irrespective of what comes his way. While he has the potential to lead India well, India will miss the fierceness of Kohli, which the Australians loved to hate and which would often act as a deterrent for them in trying to sledge him and India.
Virat Kohli is one of the best cricketers in the world. It is impossible to have a like for like replacement for him in any team. However, India needs to be focussed. They still possess a good batting line up and a lethal bowling attack. They have to believe they can win it without Virat Kohli. Only if they truly believe, will India be able to put up any kind of fight against the Aussies.
