Virat Kohli Accept Challenge, Gearing Up India for Red-Ball
A
perfect combination and a winning start will be the most important thing in
patron Virat Kohli's mind when India takes on the West Indies in their first
opening match at the World Test Championship here on Thursday.
Virat Kohli Said on World Test Championship
People
have been talking about trying cricket not relevant or dying. For me,
competition has doubled in recent years. It's up to the players to take the
challenge and get victories. The games will be much more competitive and will
bring a lot of purpose to the test matches you play. It's the right move and at
the right time. The last test played here saw England score 187 and 132, but
that was a different time of year.
However, Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri recently got a new contract, will wary of the
challenge of Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel's new pair of balls along with
Jason Holder in their constant sewing spells. However, it is the batting
combination that is the main concern of the pattern and, if it can get it
right, it will be considered a tactical victory.
If a
green top is provided and Kohli still goes with five bowlers including Ravindra
Jadeja as an all-rounder, it could well be a jolt between the two Mumbaikars. The
other problem will be at the top of the order about who will open with Mayank
Agarwal. Common logic says that KL Rahul, who is a specialized opener, but
Hanuma Vihari was sent to fight fires in Australia and it would be unfair not
to give him another chance against a relatively easier pace attack.
The
West Indies team in the test format has been discreet with players who have
more talent than the numbers currently display. In Shai Hope, John Campbell and
Shimron Hetmyer have the three talented young men. Roston Chase, during the
2016 series against India, had thwarted Ashwin for a fifth whole day in
Kingston after the West Indies watched a loss in the innings. On top of that,
he is a stable spin-off with 50 test wickets.
Darren
Bravo is his most experienced hitter with 52 tests and almost 3,500 runs to his
credit. However, the kind of talent he has, an average of 38 more with only
eight hundred doesn't justify that. All eyes will also be, the new
"giant" of world cricket, Rahkeem Cornwall, has a chance. Its
imposing physical structure may have caught the eye, but Cornwall has also
performed well with its off-break cash and handy medium-low-order batting.
