Will Virat Kohli's absence lead to a new Indian hero in Australia?

Virat Kohli is all set to lead India in Australia from November 27. However, he would be back in India after the opening Test, as he looks to be with his Bollywood wife, Anushka Sharma, ahead of the birth of his first child, in January. Rohit Sharma is likely to lead in his absence.

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Mumbai, First Published Nov 19, 2020, 7:18 PM IST

Team India is all set for another gruelling tour in Australia, as the sides lock horn across formats. Virat Kohli and co are defending champions of ODIs and Tests from their previous outing, while the T20Is had ended in a 1-1 draw.

Meanwhile, Kohli would not be able to spend his time entirely in Australia, as he would be leading the side in limited-overs ultimately. However, after leading the side in the opening Test, he would be back in India ahead of the birth of his first child, with his Bollywood wife, Anushka Sharma.

Meanwhile, former Indian batsman VVS Laxman, who has played numerous brilliant innings Down Under, seems confident of a new hero emerging during the absence of Kohli. Laxman was involved in an exclusive interview with Sportstar and here’s what he had to say.

On Kohli missing out
“Virat Kohli is a nemesis for the Australians. If you see his record, it is second to none on Australian soil. As a captain and as a world-class batsman, he has always batted with authority against Australia in their own backyard. So definitely, there is no doubt that India will miss the impact of Virat, but I think this could be an opportunity for someone else to step up,” he said.

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“That’s the beauty of international sport. When some big player - in this case, it’s Virat - misses out, it is an opportunity for some other players to step up and showcase his talent and I hope that there will be some other hero who will emerge in the series,” he added.

“Last time, in the batting unit, it was more of Pujara and Virat, and in bowling, it was a combined effort. I am hoping that there will be a new hero, who will emerge in the absence of Virat in this series,” he further opined.

On the impact of bio-bubble
“There is no doubt that living in a bio-bubble is a challenge for anybody. But, the way the players have handled that in the IPL, I am confident that they will embrace the challenge because they know that representing the country is the biggest honour,” he noted.

On India’s batting
“They have to just go back and revisit what they did in the previous Australia tour, and it’s not only about the skill, but also the mindset. I thought everyone - right from the batsmen to the bowling unit - was aggressive in their mindset. And, if you have to beat Australia in Australia, it is very important that you are mentally strong and aggressive. That’s the reason why they won last time. I am sure they will continue to play with the same mindset, even this time around…” he concluded.

Last Updated Nov 19, 2020, 7:18 PM IST

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Will Virat Kohli's absence lead to a new Indian hero in Australia?

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