Delhi: After India lost the first test at Hyderabad, one missed former India captain Virat Kohli as he would have provided the much needed experience, which one felt was missing. But then, the team bounced back at Vizag and levelled the series. With the series locked at 1-1 and with Kohli set for a return, things looked in the right direction for the hosts – but then, when the squad was announced – his name was missing and one knew that it is very unlikely he will take part in the series.
That is when Sarfaraz Khan, who had scored massive runs in the domestic circuit over the past two seasons, was picked in the side for the Rajkot Test. Young Sarfaraz made the most of his opportunity at Rajkot as he hit two fifties and in very quick time to make a good case for himself in front of the selectors. So, has Kohli’s absence been a ‘blessing in disguise’ for the side.
In an exclusive interaction with former India captain Anjum Chopra, we asked her this question. Claiming that it is ‘good’, Anjum said that had Kohli been there Sarfaraz or Rajat Patidar may not have got a go.
“In a way, now if you look back and say now Virat is not batting at No. 4 or whichever number he would have batted. Rajat Patidar too got a look-in with KL Rahul missing out at Vizag and Rajkot,” Anjum said.
Meanwhile, Kohli became father for the second time. The news was public in the evening on Tuesday. It is now going to be interesting to see if he features in the final Test at Dharamsala or not.
