India vs Australia 2017: Virat Kohli Reveals The Reason Behind Ravindra Ashwin's Exclusion

Men in Blue are all set to take on Australia in the series opener in Chennai on Sunday (17th September). The hosts, on one hand, have been in terrific form and have recently demolished the Sri Lankan team in their backyard. Whereas, Australia managed to salvage a victory and drew the two-Test match series with Bangladesh.

The five-match ODI series is a battle for the top spot in ODIs, as the team who gets the upper hand may end up as the number one limited overs team in the world.

Team India have rested their main armory (Ashwin and Jadeja) for the first three ODIs and the selectors confirmed earlier that two spinners have been rested but the Indian skipper Virat Kohli had some different words while addressing the media on the eve of the first ODI.

“A lot of teams are heading that way. You need depth in batting and you need depth in bowling as well. Those two all-rounders provide that kind of balance. Someone like Hardik Pandya or Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja. I think we need to identify two of those guys for your side to have more strength in both the departments,” Kohli said at the pre-match presser.

Speaking further on the importance an all-rounder brings to the squad’s balance, Delhi-born captain cleared the fact that he is not looking for just a bowling all-rounder or just a batting all-rounder but he wants a proper all-rounder in his team.

“That is something that all of the sides are going to move towards this because of the strength it gives in both departments along with being a top fielder as well. It’s very very important. You need a proper all-rounder and not just a bowling and a batting all-rounder. It’s something we have focused and we will look to continue as well,” he added.

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