Harbhajan said Kohli’s absence will be felt by India both as a batsman and leader.
Harbhajan Singh wished all the luck to India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and hopes he will take the team forward and score runs too if he is given the job to captain India in Virat Kohli’s absence in Australia.
Kohli will fly back to India after playing the first Day-Night Test of the upcoming four-match Test series in Australia starting on 17th of December in Adelaide and Rahane could be given the full charge of the Test team in the regular skipper’s absence for the remaining three matches.
Harbhajan, who is the second-highest wicket-taking off-spinner in Tests, believes that captaincy in Australia could be a big challenge for Rahane since he hasn't led the team for an entire series, but said the right-hander has the ability to do the job for India on the tough tour.
Kohli and Rahane both are distinct characters on the field, and Harbhajan has insisted that the latter doesn’t need to change his game and style or personality as he hopes the vice-captain will take the team forward like Virat while suggesting him to just be himself and get the best out of his team.
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Harbhajan said on Sports Tak: “[Captaincy] definitely a big challenge for Ajinkya Rahane because he hasn’t been captain for an entire series. Also, he’s pretty calm and composed, not so expressive. He’s very different than Virat Kohli. So, it will be a new experience for him. Start of a new innings for him. I give him my best wishes and I hope that he will take the team forward and score runs as well.”
He further explained his point, “I hope he takes the team forward like Virat, leading from the front, also scores runs. I would also like to remind Rahane that doesn’t need to change his style or personality, his game. Looking at a personality like Virat, Rahane might think that he has to adopt some of it to beat Australia. But I don’t think that’s necessary. All Rahane needs to do is be himself and make sure he gets the best out of his team.”
Meanwhile, the cricketer-turned-commentator also feels Kohli’s absence will have a huge impact on the team in Australia and the tourists will miss both his batting and captaincy during the Test series. He has scored 1274 Test runs, averaging 55.39, including 6 hundreds and 3 fifties in 12 Tests in Australia.
Harbhajan further said of the skipper, “I feel Kohli’s absence will be felt in both aspects [as a batsman and a leader. Firstly, the kind of record Kohli has with the bat in Australia is unbelievable. His numbers in Australia are great, so much that every player would want to go to Australia and perform like him. So definitely India is going to miss Kohli in the batting unit.”
He signed off by saying, “Then his experience as a captain, his aggression, leading from the front, that is Virat Kohli and he’ll remain the best. He puts his all while representing the side, be it fielding as well. His body language, intent towards winning the game is what India will miss most.”
(With India Today Inputs)