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.
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