As the fans eagerly wait for the high-profile Test series against Australia to begin, former India skipper Kapil Dev has put the spotlight of Indian batsmen. Virat Kohli & Co and Australia lock horns in a four-match Test series as a part of the ICC World Test Championship starting from December 17.
The World No. 2 team will be keen to replicate his performance from the last time when they toured in 2018. During the last tour, the visitors stunned Australia 2-1 on their last visit Down Under in 2018-19. Ahead of the Test series, the World Cup-winning captain cast doubts on the ability of Indian batsmen to score 400 runs in an innings in Australia.
Not sure whether Indian batsmen will score 400 runs – Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev reckoned that he is confident about Indian bowlers delivering the goods in Australian conditions but he can’t express the same about the batting line-up which will lose its shine after captain Virat Kohli’s departure.
“Let me put it differently. Looking at our pace attack, it will be about the batsmen. We’re not sure our batsmen will score 400 runs (in an innings). If our batsmen don’t struggle, we won’t have any problem,” said Kapil Dev during an interaction at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2020.
Incidentally, Virat Kohli will return to India after playing only the first Test to stay with his wife Anushka Sharma, who is expecting the birth of his first child at the beginning of January. He will be missing the remaining three Test matches where India are likely to be led by vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.
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In Kohli’s absence not only will the likes of Rahane and Cheteshwar Puajra will have to step up to the task. Pujara was the highest run-scorer last time with 521 runs from four matches and will hope to keep up the same job.
Meanwhile, leading up to the Test series, India will play three ODIs starting from November 27. It will be followed by the same number of T20Is and will culminate with the four-match Test series.
