Adam Gilchrist is expecting Virat Kohli to do an encore of 2014-15 Test series but for India to win the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the other batsmen will have to rally around their talismanic skipper.
The first Test starts in Adelaide on December 6 and last time around, Kohli had scored hundreds in both innings in India's heartbreaking loss.
The key for India winning this series though will be batsmen around him. Will they support him enough to allow India to get enough runs, and give their good bowling attack enough opportunity to defend or even bowl Australia twice in a Test?Adam Gilchrist
“Going ahead into the Test series, I expect Virat Kohli will have another imperious outing like he did in 2014 (694 runs in 4 Tests at average 86.50). I have spoken with him these last few days, seen his confidence, and seeing the way he batted in Sydney, I will be very surprised if he doesn’t," he added.
When asked if there could be a particular ploy from Australia to stop Kohli, Gilchrist replied,"I don't think I will be able to pinpoint a plan because I don't know. At best, Australia will have to be patient. They will have to play good old-fashioned Test cricket. Their best hope is to make early inroads in the Indian batting and bowl at Kohli with the new ball.
Of course, they have to attack all batsmen and not just him, especially when they are new to the crease. But they also need to know when to go defensive and play the patience game against him for long hoursAdam Gilchrist
Gilchrist conceded that India start favourites but added that it won't take too much for Australia to be dominant in their own conditions.
India start as favourites for this Test series mainly because they have a reasonable idea of their team composition. They have a strong understanding what combination they want to play with.Adam Gilchrist
"Maybe 1-2 spots will be up for grabs but otherwise their playing eleven is very much set. I think India have a stable Test team. Whereas if you look at Australia, I don't think their selectors are quite sure about the line-up or team balance. This is a new phase for Australian cricket," Gilchrist added.
India have been beset with batting problems on their two overseas tours this year. In South Africa, they lost 2-1 and then 4-1 in England, albeit the team was overall competitive in both series on the back of Kohli's form and the Indian pace attack.
The series has lost some sheen with the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, both of whom are serving yearlong bans for the ball tampering scandal in South Africa earlier in March.
Gilchrist opined that there is no way Australia will be able to replace the duo.
Smith and Warner have scored a lion’s share of Australia’s runs over the last couple years or so, and this is a huge loss, no doubt. They are clearly going to miss them, especially Smith because he is in the same space as Kohli.Adam Gilchrist
"He is the best batsman in the world across formats but until the ban Smith was right up there, particularly in Test cricket. Warner can be very damaging and this is a massive hole. Their absence makes it a more open series for India and all the more difficult for Australia."
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)