Australia vs India: Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border Explain The Impact Of Virat Kohli's Absence
Published - 16 Dec 2020, 12:27 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:38 AM
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Former batsmen Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar have opened up on the impact of Virat Kohli’s absence in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. The India batting mainstay would return home after playing the first Test of the four-match series to be at the birth of his first child.
Anushka Sharma is due to give birth in early January. The BCCI has already given paternity leave to the 32-year old. And due to the strict and mandatory quarantine rules, Virat Kohli won’t be able to return to Australia for the latter games. In his absence, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team.
Missing their skipper will be a huge blow for India. Arguably the best batsman in the world at the moment, he has a stunning Test record in Australia. In 12 Tests so far, he has amassed 1,274 runs at an average of more than 55 with the help of six hundreds and three fifties.
Border, Gavaskar on Virat Kohli’s absence:
Speaking about the India skipper’s absence, Border has said that Australia will naturally become favourites after the departure of the right-handed batsman, On the other hand, Gavaskar has reckoned that not bowling to someone like Kohli will be a huge boost for Tim Paine’s side.
“I agree, there will be a huge gap in that line-up — just his (Kohli’s) presence around that team and out on the field. I think the Aussies will really enjoy that they don’t have to bowl to him for three of the Test matches.
“So he will want to hit the ground running at Adelaide and try and get India off to a flying start and see what happens from there,” Border said.
“It’s hard to replace anyone like him. So we have to wait and see the impact it has but surely the Aussies will be favourites for the games where he is not playing. That is for sure,” he added.
Gavaskar echoed the sentiments of Border, saying Kohli’s return would mean a huge advantage for Australia. He also pointed out that the Indian players need to step up in their skipper’s absence.
“I think it is a huge boost for the Australians, a man who has six hundreds in 12 Tests in Australia. It is a huge boost for Australians not to be bowling to Kohli in the last the three Tests,” he said.
“…(But) somebody or the other from the Indian ranks need to lift themselves up to make up for his absence. And therefore like I said that though it is going to be a huge boost for the Australians, for the Indians it will be a great incentive to lift their game up, for everybody to give that extra to make up for his absence,” Gavaskar added.
