Ian Chappell Sees Virat Kohli's Absence As A 'Big Hole' In India's Batting Order

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has opined on Virat Kohli’s absence from three out of four Tests in the upcoming tour of Australia. India will defend their Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they retained down under in 2018-19 by winning their first Test series on Australian soil. Ian Chappell reckons that Virat Kohli’s absence creates a big hole in the tourists’ batting line-up.

With Virat Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma expecting their first child in January, the Indian captain will fly back to be with her. The absence of Kohli will mean that Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have to do the bulk of run-scoring and withstand an Australian side, who will come back hard after suffering a loss last time. Nevertheless, in the first Test and the only one that Virat plays, he will try nothing less than to win it for his side to give India an early-series lead.

Virat Kohli’s aggression was one of the most significant factors in India clinching their first Test series in Australia back in 2018-19. While Kohli did not do as well with the bat, there is no questioning his Test credentials in Australia. The right-handed batsman has six centuries in their backyard, the first of which came in 2011 in Adelaide. With Adelaide hosting the opening Test of the summer, Kohli will have his eyes fixated at another substantial knock.

The result could well come down to who is the bravest set of selectors: Ian Chappell

Ian Chappell underlined that India faces a massive dilemma of whom to thrust at number four when Virat Kohli departs for India. While Ian Chappell sees the Delhi batsman’s absence as a hole, he also reckons it is an opportunity for the youngsters to step up. The 77-year old added that the side making the bravest selection decisions could well take the series.

“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. 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,” Chappell said as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

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