India vs Australia: “National duty comes first” – Dilip Doshi says he wouldn’t have gone home if he had been in Virat Kohli’s shoes

India vs Australia: “National duty comes first” – Dilip Doshi says he wouldn’t have gone home if he had been in Virat Kohli’s shoes
Virat Kohli

India who were outplayed in the first Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval will be desperate to bounce back from the defeat when the second Test begins on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The wounds of the 36/9 in the second innings of the first Test are still afresh but a win in the second Test will throw the series wide open and give India much-needed confidence.

However, India were already dealt with the huge blow of the absence of Virat Kohli in the final three Tests, long before the tour began. Kohli has already left for India on ‘paternity leave’ to be with his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child which is expected in January. Ajinkya Rahane, Kohli’s deputy, will lead the Indian side from the second Test onwards with the hope of producing a remarkable comeback.

‘This is the time when India need their captain the most’

Dilip Doshi

Former Indian spinner Dilip Doshi spoke to Sportskeeda about Kohli’s decision to leave for India and said, “I know this is a modern phenomenon that people believe that they ought to be by the side of their family and spouses when they deliver a child. I understand all that. But when you are on a national duty… If I put myself in his shoes, I wouldn’t have gone. For me, national duty comes before everything else.”

“This is a highly individual and institutional approach. Legally, you cannot stop somebody doing that. The cricket board cannot have a rule saying the players cannot go and be on the side of their spouses for such an occasion. Personally, I wouldn’t have gone,” added Doshi.

Speaking further about the Indian team’s current form, Doshi said, “To me, captaining India would be the prime-most thing on my mind. It’s a sinking ship. This is the time when they need their captain the most. If you leave at this time, you are leaving the side to your deputy with a lot of questions unanswered. I only hope and pray that the team shows enough character to come out of this.”

India will hope they can still secure a win in the second Test without their talismanic captain.

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