IND vs SA: Virat Kohli Can Play With An Open Mind Now- Saba Karim

Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman Saba Karim observed that Test skipper, Virat Kohli, can breathe freely and “revive” his Test career in the upcoming tour of South Africa.

Kohli was relieved of his ODI captaincy, just a couple of months after he announced that he will be giving up his T20I captaincy. Rohit Sharma has taken over in both formats. With the added pressure of captaincy relieved, Kohli can focus on his batting solely, which has taken a hit by his standards.

“It seems a burden has been removed from Virat Kohli’s head. He can play with an open mind now, he can revive his Test career afresh. The expectation is that he will dish out performances like he was doing two years back,” Karim said in a conversation with India News.

“If he bats with an open mind and approach, he can repeat those performances. I have full belief that the form he has shown in the practice sessions, the same form will be seen in the match as well,” Karim mentioned.

The Indian team that is currently in South Africa has its best-ever chance of registering their maiden Test series victory on Protean shores. Although the batting has been shaky, to say the least, the bowling attack has saved them in multiple scenarios.

India’s lower-order batting has improved tremendously and that has been their mantra for success in the recent England tour and the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy victory. Kohli and co. will be hoping to reduce the pressure on their bowlers when the first Test begins on December 26.

India’s Test squad for South Africa tour:

Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul (vc), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jayant Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma.

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