Tough task ahead without Kohli: Kumble

IF India don’t land the first punch by clinching the opening day-night Test against Australia, the going will get very tough for the visitors in the absence of talismanic skipper Virat Kohli, feels former national coach Anil Kumble.

India will start the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Test series with the day-nighter at Adelaide, from December 17, and Kumble feels that the match will be be the ‘biggest challenge’ for the visitors. Skipper Kohli will return home after the opening Test for the birth of his first child.

‘If we can stay ahead in the first Test match then India has a great chance to repeat what they did in the last Australia tour,’ the spin legend said during the Mutual Funds annual conclave ‘The Winners’ Circle’ organised by L&T Financial Services.

‘Although with (Steven) Smith and (David) Warner coming back, and then Virat (Kohli) missing the three Test matches will obviously be a big factor for India. But having said that, there’s enough ability within the team, be it batting or bowling.’

The touring Indians don’t have enough experience of facing the pink ball in top-flight cricket, having played only one such Test against Bangladesh last year, which they won by a handsome margin of innings and 46 runs. Australia, on the other hand, have played in quite a few pink-ball day-nighters over the last few years.

Kumble feels India’s fast bowling arsenal is at par with Australia, while the visitors are ahead of the hosts in batting but it will all boil down to the result of the first Test.

‘... if we can get ahead in the pink-ball Test match - which obviously is Australia’s strength: they’ve done really well in Adelaide whenever they have played a pink-ball Test,’ he said.