Kohli’s India sheds ‘poor traveler’ tag
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India justified its top ranking with a breakthrough overseas win in Australia yesterday and captain Virat Kohli has reasons to be optimistic about leading a team which can dominate test cricket for years to come.
India has traditionally been formidable at home and fragile abroad, especially outside the subcontinent where harder or grassy pitches took the edge off its spinners and disconcerted its batsmen. Its rise to the top of the test rankings under Kohli was built on strong home form and the 30-year-old has been insisting on winning abroad to lend legitimacy to the status.
After defeats in South Africa and England, success finally came in Sydney when Kohli and his men ended India’s agonizing 71-year wait for a test series victory in Australia.
“Having been to this country for the third time now and to understand what we’ve achieved here has never been done before, this is something we can be proud of,” Kohli said in Sydney after the 2-1 series win.
“This win will give us a different identity as an Indian team.”
Australia missed the banned duo of Steve Smith and David Warner but the tourists seem to have finally forged a formidable pace attack which can take 20 wickets regularly.
Kohli’s immediate thought was to preserve the seamers who hold the key to India’s success abroad.
“It’s important to take care of these guys, especially,” said Kohli, who, along with wife Anushka Sharma, gave up their business class seats so the pace bowlers could rest better during the trip from Adelaide to Perth. “I think the most important thing is to look after these guys because they deserve a good break now and because they are the reason we are sitting here having won in Australia for the first time.”
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