India Tour of Australia: ‘India will face a selection dilemma in Virat Kohli’s absence,’ feels Ian Chappell


India Tour of Australia: ‘India will face a selection dilemma in Virat Kohli’s absence,’ feels Ian Chappell

Ian Chappel and Virat Kohli

Ian Chappel and Virat Kohli
Ian Chappel and Virat Kohli

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell feels that the absence of Virat Kohli in the upcoming Test series against Australia will create a big hole in the Indian batting. Virat Kohli will fly back home after the first Test (Day/Night game) at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Chappell feels that Indian team will also go through a selection dilemma once Kohli leaves the series. Kohli had a great season last time Indian toured Australia in 2018. He smashed 282 runs in fours matches at an average of 40.29. Moreover, India registered an unprecedented Test series win 2-1 under his captaincy.

Also Read | India tour of Australia: ‘He will be ready to go’ – Stoinis feels Virat Kohli will be ‘extra-motivated’

“India also face a selection dilemma when skipper Virat Kohli departs for home for the birth of his first child following the opening Test. This creates both a big hole in the Indian batting order and an opportunity for one of their talented young players to make a name for himself,” Chappell wrote in his column on ESPNCricinfo.

ADVERTISEMENT

‘Bewildered by Justin langer’s summation for the Test opener’

Justin Langer

The former cricketer also talked about the ongoing confusion in the Australian camp for David Warner’s opening partner in Test matches.

“Speaking of confusion, I was flummoxed by the Australian coach’s summation of the choice between incumbent Joe Burns and rising star Will Pucovski for the job of David Warner’s opening partner,” Chappell wrote.

“If no one else is vying for the position then Burns retains his place. However, Pucovski has been banging on the door for a while now – something Langer craves. Pucovski has taken a sledgehammer to the entryway by making six centuries at Shield level, three of them doubles; two of those double-hundreds came this season. He has well and truly proved he is good enough at that level, so it’s time to see if he can succeed in the Test arena,” he added.

“What was already shaping up as an exciting tussle now has the added stimulus of crucial selection decisions. The result could well come down to who is the bravest set of selectors,” the former Australian cricketer signed off.

ADVERTISEMENT

Also Read | India tour of Australia: ‘My focus has been on the red ball’ – Shami eyes successful Test series