India Tour of Australia : Harbhajan Singh names “big players” who could fill Virat Kohli’s shoes in Test series

India Tour of Australia : Harbhajan Singh names “big players” who could fill Virat Kohli’s shoes in Test series

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli

India skipper Virat Kohli‘s paternal leave has become the talk of the town as the most anticipated Test series against Australia draws closer. Kohli is set to fly back after the first Test in Adelaide for the birth of his first child. The skipper’s absence leaves a big hole in the side’s middle order against the lethal Aussie bowling attack.

Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh opines that Kohli’s absence might prove to be a blessing in disguise for the top Test side of the world. Singh opines that the skipper’s absence will be an opportunity for India’s star-studded squad to step up and prove their prowess with the bat in the challenging conditions Down Under

“Virat Kohli is coming back after the first Test but this open the window of opportunity for someone like KL Rahul, who is coming back in the Test team. Virat Kohli is a big player and he has scored runs whenever he has toured Australia, his absence will be missed but this is an opportunity for players to step in,” Harbhajan told Sports Tak.

An opportunity to prove themselves

Cheteshwar Pujara and KL Rahul
Cheteshwar Pujara and KL Rahul

The 40-year-old feels that Cheteshwar Pujara and KL Rahul will play a pivotal role in Kohli’s absences. It was Pujara’s heroics which handed India their first Test series win Down Under during their last visit. The Saurashtra batter’s 521 runs in four games saw the visitors clinch the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar series.

On the other hand, it will be the perfect opportunity for Rahul to revive his Test career. Rahul’s numbers in the format have been steadily dropping over the years. But his stupendous run in limited-overs international for India and his scintillating IPL stint, where he bagged the Orange Cap, should help his confidence Down Under.

“Virat Kohli’s absence should be seen in this manner. KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara are big players and they have an opportunity to prove themselves. I think Team India has it in them but the fact that Virat Kohli is there or not should be forgotten. The team should just remember that they are in Australia to win and repeat what they did the last time,” Harbhajan said.

The Test series kicks off with a day and night clash, India’s first on foreign soil, in Adelaide on December 17.

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