Down Under show: Why Virat is better than Sachin
NEWDELHI: Virat Kohli’s upward journey, ever since taking over the mantle of Indian cricket team, came to an abrupt and unexpected halt against Steven Smith-led Australian cricket team in the first match of a fourTest series in Pune.
Sourav Ganguly, former India captain, believes Kohli’s record in Australia against Australia should be sufficient to instill confidence in the 28-year-old’s quest to return to winning ways. To back his point, Ganguly went a step further and said even Sachin Tendulkar doesn’t match Kohli’s records in Australia.
“Virat Kohli will come back. His record against Australia is unreal. To watch those four Test match hundreds against Australia, I have not seen even the great Sachin Tendulkar do that,” Ganguly told India Today TV channel.
“Yes he (Tendulkar) has done very well against Australia but getting four Test match hundreds in only your second trip to Australia is a special, special effort.”
KOHLI’S RECORD VS AUS
In India’s 2014-15 away tour of Australia, Kohli scored four tons and one half-century in four Tests.
He scored 692 runs in that series at an average of 86.50.
Kohli’s overall average in Tests in Australia is also much better than Tendulkar’s. In eight matches, from 2011 to 2015, Kohli has scored 992 runs at an average of 62.00. He has hit five tons.
Tendulkar, on the other hand, scored 1809 runs in 20 Tests, from 1991 to 2012, at 53.20 with six tons.
‘DRS EMOTIONAL’
Ganguly, however, said that India needed to use the DRS carefully.
“We need to get the DRS right. I think now India’s DRS decisions are more emotional than logical,” he said.
Ganguly added that India can make a strong comeback in the second Test. “Kohli got out to a loose shot in the first Test. The rest of the lot too has to stand up. India have the team to get back strong.” Ganguly feels India should play an extra batsman.