Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie said India captain Virat Kohli ‘doesn’t have any weakness in particular’ but also gave a plan to the Australian pacers spearheaded by Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to get the India skipper out cheaply in the four-match Test series.
As the countdown for the much-awaited India and Australia series starts, former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie suggested that the host bowlers will have to be ‘nice and patient’ to get the better of India skipper Virat Kohli, instead of just being ruthless as he ‘doesn’t seem to have any weakness in particular’.
Jason Gillespie: Australian Bowlers Must Be Nice And Patient Besides Being Ruthless To Dismiss Virat Kohli Cheaply
In a conversation with the Telegraph, the former cricketer Jason Gillespie said that the Australian bowlers would be hoping they can bowl the best deliveries besides strictly following basic line and length to dismiss Indian skipper Virat Kohli who don’t have any weakness as such.
“The Australians do want to take Virat’s wicket cheaply. He doesn’t seem to be having any weaknesses in particular. So, the Aussie bowlers not only need to be really ruthless when it comes to their line and length, but they will also have to stay nice and patient, that is going to be really important.
They would be hoping they can bowl those good deliveries at Virat,” Jason Gillespie, who featured in 71 Tests and 97 ODIs for Australia, said.
Virat Kohli will be playing seven games, including the first Test in Adelaide, before returning India to attend the birth of his first child. If the Indian captain couldn’t be restricted in all those matches, it may hurt the hosts who will try to avenge their previous defeat to India in both ODIs and Tests in 2018-19.
“We know what a wonderful player Virat is. Australians do want to watch him bat but not for too long. Because if he does bat for a long time, India will surely go on to get a huge score,” Gillespie said.
Virat Kohli has played 86 Tests, 248 ODIs and 82 T20Is and he averages above 50 in each of the three formats. He has already scored 27 test and 43 ODI tons. He is also India’s most successful test captain with 33 test wins.
Jason Gillespie: Jasprit Bumrah Is One Of The Best While Mohammed Shami Has Improved Much And Pose Difficulty
The former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie also agreed to the fact that the Indian team has some quality bowlers in pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah who can trouble the likes of Australia’s in-form batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne with the red ball.
“Bumrah has shown he’s one of the best in the world at present, while Shami has improved so much. His release of the ball is wonderful, he keeps the seam upright and gives it a chance to seam and swing. So, both pose very different challenges for Smith and Labuschagne,” Jason Gillespie maintained.
India is slated to play four Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is against Australia. The first ODI will take place on Friday 27th November in Sydney while the first test commences at Adelaide and will be a day-night affair on 17th December.