Indian megastar Virat Kohli is the most successful international player in Australia, according to fellow champion Sunil Gavaskar, who has also declared he is still this series’ danger man.
It comes as skipper Jasprit Bumrah warned “the signs are ominous” that Kohli is ready to dominant what will almost certainly be his final Test tour of Australia.
The veteran averages a remarkable 54.08 from 13 Tests in Australia. He has a better record only in India.
But his declining form sparked a war of words between Australian batting legend Ricky Ponting and Indian coach Gautam Gambhir about his place in the side and dominating the Border-Gavaskar series, which begins with The West Test on Friday, would be a dramatic turnaround.
It has made him the focus in the build-up, including extensive coverage by The West Australian, which this week has been featured on Indian broadcaster Star Sports.
Gavaskar believes Kohli’s record in Australia was why he was the main attraction.
“I’m not surprised at all, because look he is a superstar, we all know what he has brought to the game,” he said.
“Look at his success in Australia, he has been massively successful, I can’t think of any other player that has been as successful as Virat Kohli, from anywhere — from England, South Africa — no one has been as successful as Kohli has been in Australia.
“The interest in him being phenomenal is completely understandable.”
India’s biggest hurdle in Perth will be a wicket expected to carry its typical pace and bounce. Gavaskar urged India’s batters to stand taller and be more cautious in coming forward, but also to tap into the mind of Kohli.
“You tend to play a little low in India and you tend to come forward a lot more because you want to smother the turn,” he said.
“Here in Australia you won’t get the opportunity to do that, so what you need to do is to try and stand up as much as possible, stand as tall as you can, try and practice playing above the waist as much as possible.
“That is something they need to get right and and if they get it right they will be able to get runs.
“More importantly, I would say to every single Indian batter that is in that squad, talk to Virat Kohli. Talk to him, because he has been the most successful, talk to him about how best to play in Australia.”
Bumrah said Kohli’s preparations, which began soon after he landed in Perth last Sunday, have left him confident his star man is ready to perform.
“I don’t have to say anything about Virat Kohli the batter, he is one of the greats of the game, I don’t need to have any anecdotes on giving him any special input,” he said.
“He is the utmost professional we have got on our team, he has got a lot of success, he is one of the leaders.
“OK, one or two series here and there can go up and down, but the confidence he has at this moment, I have no doubt he is prepared and he is mentally switched on.
“The way I have seen him at training, the signs are ominous. I don’t want to jinx it by saying anything else, but he is in very good shape.”
India has kept their cards close to their chest when it comes to their final team, maintaining the veil of secrecy draped over their entire camp.
Bumrah’s press conference on Thursday was the first of their almost two-week stay in Perth and won’t announce their team until the toss.
“We have finalised it and you will come to know probably tomorrow, just before the game,” he said.
“We are sure on the combination that we want to play and we are pretty confident in each individual that is going to represent India.”
There is a chance they leave out veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in favour of Washington Sundar, while left-armer Ravi Jadeja is also an option.
Batter Shubman Gill has not yet been ruled out officially, but is unlikely to play with a broken thumb.
They could unleash Nitish Kumar Reddy, a 21-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder in the Cam Green mould, while Devdutt Padikkal is likely to bat at No.3.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au