Australian cricket fans share a love and hate relationship with India’s Virat Kohli. The young brash Kohli made his mark on his first tour in 2011-12 and since then has the fans both cheering and jeering him whenever he steps onto the field in Australia.
They love to watch him play but hate him hammering the Australian bowlers and hence he gets the big numbers for the TV broadcasters as well.
However, this time, Virat will only be available for the limited-overs series and the first Test in Adelaide, as he will then fly back to India to be with his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child.
Many thought that his absence from the big-ticket Border-Gavaskar series will impact the ratings and Cricket Australia (CA) might take a hit financially. But CA, on Tuesday, asserted that this is not the case and his absence will not affect the home board financially but admitted the upcoming rubber is of "great importance" to world cricket.
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CA turned out to be one of the worst affected cricket boards due to the coronavirus pandemic that forced it to lay off a number of employees and cut down salaries of staffers.
The high-profile series against India, starting 17 December, is expected to stabilize the stream of revenue. But with Kohli gone from the majority of the series, there have been doubts that it could affect the host nation's cricket board.
"We absolutely respect Virat's decision. We are delighted that he will captain the side in each of the ODIs and the T20s and the first Test. Virat leading the side here brings competitive leadership that we have seen during the last series and we have been accustomed to watching (that) during India's performances all around the world. (But) no, nothing will have a financial bearing,” CA's interim chief executive officer Nick Hockley said.
Asked if CA and BCCI have at any point discussed the easing of quarantine rules for Kohli's return, Hockley said, “Quarantine arrangements are well described. In relation to Virat Kohli's plans close to the first Test, we have made discussions. This series is of great importance to world cricket and Australian cricket. It's a testament to all cricketing nations that we could get international cricket up and running in a safe way. The series will be played in front of large crowds."
Hockley ruled out the possibility of hosting a full series of day-night Tests in the near future, saying, “What I can say is that day/night test over last 3-4 seasons has become a much-loved feature of the Australia summer. The anticipation and excitement around this first-ever day/night Test against India have taken to a different level, given the rivalry.”
"At this stage, we have not contemplated on a full day/night series but certainly Adelaide has become the home of first day-night test in Australia. There is a history there. We expect the Australian and Indian fans to travel for what will be a historic match."
He also touched upon the mental health fact of players who have to be in the bio-secure bubbles for so long.
"We have been extremely fortunate that cases have been very limited. It's negligible community transmission. The safety of all participants on the tour and our community is our number one priority. We have been working very closely with the BCCI to make sure in providing the best possible conditions,” he said adding that the budget for bio-secure bubbles will run into "several million dollars."
(PTI inputs)
