Being the captain and batting mainstay, Virat Kohli’s absence in the last three Test matches against Australia is surely going to wallop India. And thus, India’s great former cricket Rahul Dravid questions whether India’s batting has the firepower to score 500-plus runs in Australia in the four-match Test series.
Team India’s captain will play until the first Test, which will be the maiden day-night Test match between India and Australia scheduled on December 17. He will return home to be with his wife, who is expecting the birth of their first child in early January.
Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble raise concerns over India’s batting:
In conversation with another India great Anil Kumble on ESPNCricinfo, Rahul Dravid reckons that India has the strong bowling line up, who can pick 20 wickets in one match. Still, he is concerned over the batters’ ability to score over 500 runs in four games.
“I think we will be able to get 20 wickets over five days. [But] will we get a batsman who will get 500-plus runs for us in the series [or not] might define it; if we can get that, then we give ourselves a great chance. If one of Smith and Warner, who missed the last series, get that, then they [Australia] probably will have the edge,” added Rahul Dravid.
Former Indian head coach Anil Kumble also believes that with Steve Smith and David Warner playing this year in series, Kohli’s absence will create a big void in the Indian team. But he is also confident that India has the talent which can turn the table for India.
“Although with [Steven] Smith and [David] Warner coming back [after their ball-tampering bans the last time] and then Virat [Kohli] missing the three-Test matches will obviously be a big factor for India. But having said that, there’s enough ability within the team, be it batting or bowling,” said Anil Kumble as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
India will play to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Under the leadership of Virat Kohli, the Indian team first time won the four-match Test series against Australia at their home, but Smith and Warner were not playing. The two of Australia’s juggernaut were serving ban period. However, this year, both are raring to play the series albeit Warner has been ruled out of the first Test.