Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has admitted that it would be difficult for Indian cricket to turn things around without “king” Virat Kohli but was confident that the team will “fight back” in the ongoing four-match Test series against Australia.
With India captain Kohli headed back home on paternity leave, Ajinkya Rahane will do the captaincy duty in the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, starting from the Boxing Day Test on December 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Things will be more challenging on the tour as, apart from their premier batsman in Kohli, Team India will also not have the services of their star pacemen Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma – both are injured – while they will be heading into the Boxing Day Test with the scars of Adelaide Oval thrashing.
Well, Srikkanth said India has to have a bit more positive intent as he is confident of the team’s fightback in the ongoing Test series in Australia even without Kohli and Shami.
Srikkanth told The Age and the Herald: “I think Virat summed it up very well when he said the positive intent was missing. They went into more of a shell, the Indians. The mindset I think was too defensive. They have to regroup. They have to have a bit more positive intent. The best way is just to go for it.”
He further added, “But when you miss King Kohli, it's going to make it difficult let's be honest. And Shami [as well]. But I'm sure they'll come out and fight. Everybody [in India] is disappointed but then everyone has taken the view [to look at it] as a bad dream.”
Meanwhile, the former captain has pointed out that Australia’s batting isn’t that strong without David Warner but they have a strong bowling attack and India should find motivation from their last triumph to target their weakness to make comeback in the ongoing Test series.
Srikkanth signed off by saying, “Let's not forget, the Aussies' batting is not great. My belief is the Aussies' batting is 30 percent Warner, 30 percent Smith, all others put together is 30 percent. But bowling is very good. The Australian batting is not very strong.”
