Australia vs India: I Want To Challenge Myself Against Virat Kohli - Mitchell Swepson

Australian leg-spinner, Mitchell Swepson feels it will be a great opportunity to test himself against Virat Kohli and a high-quality Indian batting line-up in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series.

Mitchell Swepson is a leg-spinner from Queensland and is included in the Test squad of the hosts for a four-match Test series against India. He was part of the squad against New Zealand as well but didn’t get a chance in the eleven. Swepson has picked 23 wickets in three Sheffield Shield matches at an average of 21.17 this season and would be itching to get his maiden baggy green cap.

Excited to test myself against a great cricketer: Mitchell Swepson

Virat Kohli will be missing the last three Test matches as he will leave for India to attend the birth of his first child. He will be available for 6 white-ball games, two practice matches, and the first Test which is a day-night pink-ball game in Adelaide.

Mitchell Swepson is hoping to have a go at the Indian skipper in the practice matches and if he finds a place in the team for the first Test. The leg-spinner takes it as another challenge and is excited to prove his skills against a great cricketer like Kohli. The 27-year-old believes that India has a world-class batting line-up and would hope for an opportunity to bowl to them.

As quoted by cricket.com.au, Mitchell Swepson said, “You want to challenge yourself against the best, and it’s no secret he’s (Kohli) up there with the best. For me, it’s another challenge and another thing that excites me to be able to test myself against a great cricketer. Their whole batting line-up is world-class. So any opportunity to bowl at those guys is a test for myself and a challenge I can’t wait to get.”

Swepson knows that Nathan Lyon is the first-choice spinner and he is not expecting to be chosen over the offie, however, if the conditions suit, the management could play two spinners, and he is ready to play on any pitch in the series. The leggie has 138 wickets in 45 first-class matches and hopes to grab any opportunity with both hands.

Mitchell Swepson continued, “Gaz (Nathan Lyon) is obviously the premier spinner and has been for a while. I’m not counting my chickens too much there with getting a go above him. But if conditions suit, there may be a chance they play two spinners.

“I’ll be preparing to play all four games. If the chance comes, I’ll hopefully take it with two hands. And if not, so be it. I’m sure there’ll be more chances in the future.”

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