India captain Virat Kohli made a big decision before the Australian series to take paternity leave after the first test in Adelaide. It meant Kohli will miss the rest of the three tests in Australia, something that has become a topic of discussion in cricket circles. Can the Indian team challenge the Australian team that will have Steve Smith and David Warner in their own backyard in Kohli’s absence? This is a question on everyone’s mind, and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that the Indian locker room will face these questions as well.
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“The one thing we haven’t talked about enough is that yeah, India was really good here last time, but with those guys (Smith and Warner) missing at the top of the order, that leaves a huge gap in any team.” Ponting said. cited by Cricket.com.au.
“India will feel that without Kohli there (for three tests), because of his batting and leadership, that will put all kinds of pressure on different players. You’d think (Ajinkya) Rahane will take over the captaincy, which will put additional pressure on him, and they have to find someone to hit that really important number 4 spot, “he added.
“I don’t think they are clear in their own mind, even now, what their batting order will be like for the first Test. Who’s going to open, who’s hitting at four when Kohli leaves? Ponting said.
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Lots of media speculation about whether Joe Burns will play starter alongside David Warner in the first tryout or whether young Will Pucovski will get a shot. Ponting said India has bigger questions in front of them than Australia’s dilemma over their first matches.
“The questions that are being asked in Australia with Pucovski and Green, I think India has a few more questions to answer,” he said.
“(Fast bowlers Mohammad) Shami, Jasprit Bumrah – will it be Ishant (Sharma), with him Umesh Yadav, will it be a young boy like (Navdeep) Saini or (Mohammad) Siraj? They also have many questions to ask. And what roulette? They have some spinners on their team and they have to decide which one to choose for the pink ball game in Adelaide, ”he concluded.
India will play 3 ODI, 3 T20I and 4 tests in Australia.
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