The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is nicely poised between India and Australia and Dharamshala Test will be the decider of who wins the Test series. With a Test that important starting March 25, Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s availability is not certain after the shoulder injury he encountered at Ranchi on Day 1 of the third Test. On the other hand, Australia will be high on spirits after being able to draw the Ranchi Test after a considerable deficit on Day 4.
Although Kohli has not been performing well with the bat having scored 46 runs in 5 innings but his presence in the field is such that it impacts the opposition team. That has been the story so far of the ongoing Test series with trash talk and controversies on and off the field. However, the Aussies will surely benefit from Kohli’s absence. Here’s why!
Virat Kohli’s attacking tactics
Kohli is known for his attacking nature and going all guns blazing against teams even if they are dominating the game. The Bengaluru Test was an example of that as they bundled out Australia in the second and fourth innings despite under immense pressure created due to humiliating Pune defeat.
Kohli gives his bowlers a chance to attack the batsmen irrespective of the number of runs on the scoreboard. That gives the bowler the confidence to try more and more variations to get the better off the batsmen. And, that’s what helps him break partnerships.
Virat Kohli at No. 4
However, Kohli’s performance in the ongoing Test series is his worst run since the start of his career as he has managed to score only 46 runs from 5 innings. But, Kohli’s talent cannot be ignored even if he is in the worst of his forms. Before this series, he was in tremendous form breaking Sir Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid’s record of registering 4 double centuries in four Test series on the trot.
Dharamshala’s wicket helps the batsmen who like the ball coming onto the bat and rewards them for good shots. Kohli is raring to get back into the form and shut Australian media’s mouth with his bat and Dharamshala’s wicket will provide him that opportunity. Australians always devise a play to get Kohli out, they will be under much less pressure if Kohli does not go into the field on March 25. There is a buzz going around that Shreyas Iyer might fill in the vacant spot on Kohli’s absence.
Virat Kohli, the crowd motivator
Kohli does not only communicate actively with his bowlers and fielders but the crowd present in the stadium as well. Bengaluru Test saw Kohli motivating the crowd which resulted in Ishant Sharma putting pressure on Mitchell Marsh and getting his wicket. His passion on the field is unmatched and the only player coming close to him in the history of Indian cricket is Sourav Ganguly.
Kohli does not hold back his emotions whether it was the ‘brain fade’ incident or giving reply to the Aussies when they mocked his shoulder injury at Ranchi.
Kohli’s absence will surely make the Aussies breathe a sigh of relief if Kohli does not play at Dharamshala. In the press conference too he revealed that there is still a chance that he can play in the fourth Test but he will have to pass through the fitness test. Although the physio will have the final call in that matter.
