Published: Dec 20, 2018, 11:28 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 20, 2018, 11:28 AM (IST)
Team India’s selection procedure faced severe backlash after the tourists went down in the second Test at Perth by 146 runs. India may have regretted including a spinner in the side after watching Nathan Lyon pick up eight wickets.
Skipper Virat Kohli’s on-field behaviour received a lot of flak with many Australian legends – Allan Border, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Hussey – and even former Indian cricketers like Sanjay Manjrekar, who said that Kohli is taking his greatness for granted.
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The Australian media too are planning the pit the tourists as ‘enemies’ ahead in the series for triggering verbal duels at Perth. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who has experienced and moreover, been on top of such instances before, believes India have the firepower to win the remaining two Tests – on Boxing Day at Melbourne and January 3 at Sydney.
Lots of talk going around in media specially Australian .. watch out for india against this australia ..still two tests to go and india can win both.. don’t go too far ahead everyone @bcci
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) December 19, 2018
“Lots of talk going around in media specially Australian .. watch out for india against this australia ..still two tests to go and india can win both.. don’t go too far ahead everyone @bcci,” Ganguly wrote on Twitter.
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Meanwhile, while Kohli’s behaviour has drawn mixed reaction, former India pacer Zaheer Khan reckons the swashbuckling batsman should stick to his aggression if that is what has brought him success. His team-mate Praveen Kumar, was of the similar view.
I would say (Virat) stick to what you know best. Stick to what has got you so much of success. You can’t move away from your success formula. It doesn’t matter what others are saying (about Kohli). Series in Australia have always been (intense) like this,” former pace spearhead Zaheer told PTI.
“Kohli played with aggression at the U-16, U-19 and Ranji Trophy level. What is the issue if he is showing the same aggression while playing for India? I have played a lot of cricket with him and I can safely say that he can’t play his best cricket without aggression,” Kumar added.
