Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has backed Virat Kohli to bounce back in the rest of the Border-Gavaskar against Australia. Kohli was dismissed after scoring only three runs in the first innings at the Gabba, Brisbane while chasing a wide seventh stump delivery from Josh Hazlewood.
Barring scoring an unbeaten hundred at Perth, Kohli hasn’t been at his best as he has returned with scores of 5, 7, 11, and 3 in the ongoing series. After the third Test match at Brisbane ended in a draw due to continuous rain, Kohli would look to bounce back stronger in the last two Test matches.
Sourav Ganguly said on India Today, “Virat Kohli is getting out. He has to leave the ball. He probably needs to be a bit more patient because they will keep bowling to him outside the off stump, outside the off stump. But I am sure he will score runs. He scored a century in the first Test, and by the time the series finishes, he will get another hundred.”
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma decided to bat at number six after KL Rahul has been able to grab his chance while opening the innings. Shubman Gill hasn’t yet got a big score in the series while batting at number three and Ganguly said Rohit can decide to bat himself at one down.
“Sacrificing his batting position for KL Rahul, that’s Rohit Sharma’s call. KL Rahul is in form, that’s why he is not tinkering with him, but I am sure Rohit can also bat at number three, but that’s his decision,” said Ganguly.
“I don’t know the reason behind Rohit Sharma not playing as an opener. Many times, when you bat at number six, you have to face the new ball. I have batted at number six for India. Most of the time, you have to play the second new ball. I think, as he is an opener, he is batting at number six because he has to face the second new ball.”
The fourth Test match between India and Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from 26th December.
