Pakistan fast-bowling great Wasim Akram believes the upcoming Test series between Australia and India will define Virat Kohli’s legacy as a captain.
Kohli and his men are set to take on the Aussies in four Tests beginning from December 6 and the Pakistan legend feels that India have a great chance to record a win against the hosts who are still missing Steve Smith and David Warner due to their one-year bans.
“Yeah he’s (Kohli) got the best chance (to define his captaincy tenure). It’s inexperienced young Aussie side… go all out and of course if they get early wickets that’s where the struggle for the bowlers is,” Akram said in a chat with NDTV.
“I am just worry about bowlers from India, Pakistan when they go there (Australia), sometimes they get excited with the bounce on the pitches, especially at Brisbane. So the idea is to pitch it up, don’t bowl short, short of length delivery, because they will be expecting that,” he continued.
Akram feels India’s pacers could struggle in Australia.
India have an impressive pace battery at their disposal with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami in tow. However, Akram feels that the Indian bowlers could struggle on the bouncy wickets in Australia.
“I think the Indian bowlers will have it tough. To start off, there are a couple of drop-in pitches in Adelaide, Melbourne, they are not bouncy tracks any more. Brisbane will have a little bit of bounce. I think at Perth they are playing in a new stadium, I don’t know what sort of pitch they have over there,” said the former Pakistan pacer.
“I think whenever India, Pakistan or teams from the sub-continent tour in Australia, the batsmen also struggle but now with the batting tracks, Indian batting is very consistent.”
Before the start of the first Test at the Adelaide Oval, Kohli and his men will take part in a four-day warm up clash against a Cricket Australia XI at Sydney beginning this Wednesday.
