KOHLI READY FOR ‘BANTER’ IN OPENER
CRICKET: Virat Kohli doesn’t expect Australia to retreat completely into their shells this summer.
Kohli will spearhead India’s bid for their maiden Test series win in Australia, which starts at Adelaide Oval today.
Recent contests between the rivals have featured no shortage of bad blood and barbs, with Kohli admitting yesterday that both teams had been guilty of crossing the line.
But this week’s series opener will be Australia’s first home Test since the Cape Town cheating scandal, an event that has prompted them to tweak an in-your-face approach that had rubbed opposition players and fans the wrong way.
Kohli expects the four-Test series will be played in better spirits compared to recent Border-Gavaskar contests. But the superstar also predicted there would be some “banter” between the sides, noting it’s unrealistic to expect a bowler to turn on their heel, say nothing and march back to their mark after every single delivery.
“I personally don’t think any team should be totally negative after something like that (the ball-tampering furore) happens,” Kohli said.
The visitors were still weighing up whether Rohit Sharma or Hanuma Vihari will claim the final spot in their batting order, having named a 12-man squad yesterday.
Kohlii, meanwhile, has backed his pace attack to be far more potent compared to the corresponding series in 2014-15.
Star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be flanked by pacemen Mohammed Shami, Ishant Shama and Jasprit Bumrah in India’s attack.
“It’s pretty different from the last time we came here. There’s more experience,” Kohli said.