Team India will push their game in the absence of Virat Kohli: Sunil Gavaskar

The former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, is of the opinion that Virat’s absence will push other players to boost their game. Kohli’s paternity will make him miss the final three Tests. He has been the focal point of talks for the upcoming India tour of Australia in December.

In 12 Tests, Virat Kohli has scored 1274 runs including six centuries with an average of 55.39 overall. His absence to some extent will please the Australian pace bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, and Pat Cummins.

Sunil Gavaskar believes the other Indian batsmen will rise to the opportunity

Few experts of cricket believe that without Virat Kohli, India might lose the trophy but batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has other thoughts. Gavaskar believes Kohli’s absence will be a good chance for Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara to take on the challenge and enhance their performances.

He also added that it would be a tough call for both the batsman as these players will have to bat out of their skin. Gavaskar reckons that the captaincy will help Rahane to feel a lot more secure and in control of situations.

The committee is particular about who should lead the side in the absence of Virat Kohli, and he indeed has done well as a Test captain. The eminent commentator brought into notice that Team India has won every time Virat Kohli wasn’t there, be it the Dharamshala Test against Australia, the Afghanistan Test, or the Asia Cup in 2018. Despite that, the last time when Team India won the series against Australia in Australia, it was all Pujara’s determination. 

Australians were exhausted by the time the last Test came around. Mentally, they weren’t in the battle anymore. There has always been some objection at the pace at which Pujara scores, his career strike-rate is just 46.18, but Gavaskar believes it is best to leave it to him. He further said that nobody has ever told Sehwag how to play, it should be the same way for Pujara as well. He knows how to score runs and he is getting the runs and scoring hundreds for the side.

In 2018-19, Cheteshwar Pujara broke down the Australian bowling attack by scoring 521 runs. He faced 1258 deliveries for those runs.

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