Five Surprising Selections Under Virat Kohli's Test Captaincy

It has been the successful journey for Virat Kohli so far in the International career. He attained specific heights with his batting than in leading India to triumphant series victories with his remarkable Test captaincy in particular.

Meanwhile, looking at the other side of the coin, Kohli had committed few blunders in the picking Test playing XI which has eventually drawn a lot of controversies.

Here are the five such instances in Virat Kohli’s Test captaincy:

5. Picked Karn Sharma ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin & Ravindra Jadeja against Australia:

After a shocking retirement from Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the mid-series against Australia way back in 2014, Kohli was asked to lead the side.

Right in the first game, the Delhi lad surprised one and all by handing Karn Sharma a debut.

The team management benched Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to pick Karn Sharma in the side. The move hasn’t worked well as Karn Sharma leaked runs at a higher economy.

It was the Test best remembered for Kohli’s brilliance as a batsman. He scored twin centuries in the Test, and the skipper himself added that it always holds a special place in his heart.

Steven Smith scored a scintillating century in the first innings to push Australia for 517 runs while David Warner’s century in the second innings to put a target of 364 runs on the board.

Despite the stunning centuries by Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the game, Nathan Lyon’s brilliance saw Australia get rid of Virat Kohli whose Test captaincy has become the talk of the town.

4. Picked Rohit Sharma ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara:

Just after attaining the full-time captaincy, Kohli and the team management relied upon Rohit Sharma and backed him to come good at various batting positions.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s rusty series before the particular series and his slow strike-rate also played a crucial role in his exclusion.

Despite giving a handful of chances, Rohit Sharma never scored a defining knock to stay in the team.

Rohit was given a chance to bat at number three, but he failed consecutive times to move back to the number five position.

Meanwhile, the injuries to Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay paved the way for Pujara back in the side.

The return of Pujara is a massive one as he smashed a brutal 145-run knock to change the course of the game.

After that, he has always been the sure starter for India and played many memorable knocks.

3. Virat Kohli handed chance to KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma ahead of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara:

In one of those surprise selections, Indian team management dropped Murali Vijay and Pujara to introduce KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma in the playing XI.

Vijay, the first-choice opener had fully recovered from a thumb injury sustained during the opening match of the tour. However, with Lokesh Rahul made most of the opportunity in the second Test while scoring a brilliant 158.

Meanwhile, the selection of Rohit has drawn a lot of criticism as Pujara scored 46 in his previous game and was dismissed via run out. However, Kohli batted at number 3 in next match and asked Rohit to replace Pujara.

Though India won the game comfortably, the shuffling in the batting order hasn’t worked well for Kohli. He was gone for a cheap score and later, Pujara and Vijay drafted in by replacing Dhawan and Jadeja.

2. Rohit Sharma and Ishant ahead of Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

Once again India trusted Rohit under Kohli captaincy to come good in a Test match. In a surprise selection, Kohli dropped India’s best overseas batsman Ajinkya Rahane with Rohit.

It came as a massive surprise for Indians as no one thought of Rahane being left out. The move backfired for India as Rohit couldn’t deliver the goods for the team when it mattered the most.

Another interesting selection for the second Test was that of Ishant Sharma for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The swing master was the pick of the Indian bowlers in the first Test picking six wickets and also contributed with the bat. But, Ishant is introduced for his ability to extract more bounce from the Centurion wicket.

Finally, when both gentlemen were named in the third Test, Rahane and Bhuvneshwar performed exceptionally well to seal a historic game for India. Bhuvneshwar earned Man of the Match award for his brilliance.

1. Played with Dhawan ahead of Pujara in English conditions:

The leading run-scorer for India in Tests for the last season and then the player who opted to play in county cricket especially, for the England series, Pujara was dropped in the first Test at Edgbaston in India’s tour to England 2018.

Virat Kohli and the team management picked Shikhar Dhawan ahead of Pujara and dropped down KL Rahul to play at number No.3 position. Eventually, the move backfired for India.

Of late, Pujara has been the most successful Indian batsman as far as Test cricket is concerned. But, his exclusion has been the massive surprise with Dhawan replacing him.

Earlier, the southpaw registered a king pair (duck in both innings) in practice game replacing him.

The management opted to go with the trio Vijay, Dhawan and KL Rahul leaving Pujara out. The move backfired severely as none of them crossed 50-run mark.

Apart from Kohli, none of the Indian batsmen showed resilience at the crease. The skipper scored his maiden century in first innings and then registered a fifty in the second innings as well.