Ian Chappell says Virat Kohli’s absence will create ‘big hole’ in Test cricket

BCCI had granted Kohli paternity leave in December which meant that he will only play the first Test and will miss the remaining Test matches.

While Kohli’s absence will surely see an effect on the team, many have dubbed it as a necessary move for the skipper to be with his family. But many are also wondering how the India batting order will fare in his absence.

“India also face a selection dilemma when skipper Virat Kohli departs for a home for the birth of his first child following the opening Test. This creates both a big hole in the Indian batting order and an opportunity for one of their talented young players to make a name for himself,” Chappell wrote in his column on ESPNCricinfo.

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Chappell also pointed out the confusion over the opening pair in the Australian camp. “Speaking of confusion, I was flummoxed by the Australian coach’s summation of the choice between incumbent Joe Burns and rising star Will Pucovski for the job of David Warner’s opening partner,” Chappell wrote.

“If no one else is vying for the position then Burns retains his place. However, Pucovski has been banging on the door for a while now – something Langer craves. Pucovski has taken a sledgehammer to the entryway by making six centuries at Shield level, three of them doubles; two of those double-hundreds came this season. He has well and truly proved he is good enough at that level. So it’s time to see if he can succeed in the Test arena,” he added.

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“What was already shaping up as an exciting tussle now has the added stimulus of crucial selection decisions. The result could well come down to who is the bravest set of selectors,” the former Australian cricketer signed off.