Kohli eyes glory in Australia

Virat Kohli is at the top of his game but he must get his other batters to perform if he is to grab the crowning glory of India's first Test series victory in Australia.

Kohli, 30, has led India's batting charge with admirable consistency across all three formats as he tops the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings in Test and one-day internationals.

Dubbed “King Kohli” by the Indian media, the star batsman and India skipper has accumulated 1,063 runs in 18 Test innings this year, number one ahead of England skipper Joe Root (948 runs, 24 innings).

But as series defeats in South Africa and England this year showed, Kohli piling on the runs will be no guarantee of victory when the four-Test series starts on Thursday in Adelaide.

Kohli made 286 in three South Africa Tests but India lost the series 2-1 while the world's top Test side went down to England 4-1 despite the captain's 593 runs in five matches.

“Apart from Kohli himself no other batsman is making runs. So one man's show is not likely to win you a series overseas,” veteran sports journalist Ayaz Memon told AFP.

India started the key Australia tour with a loss in the first Twenty20 on November 21 but went on to level the three-match series after the second game was rained off and they won the final match.

But it is the five-day format that Kohli and India are looking to conquer, with India never having won a series in Australia in more than 70 years of trying.

India's dismal record Down Under, which started with a crushing series loss to Don Bradman's side in 1948, is just five wins in 44 Tests.

Kohli is confident that now is the time to buck the that trend.

“Looking at how much experience we have gained in the four years since we have last been here, and how the team has played, we definitely feel we have what it takes to win Test matches away from home," he said in an interview with Macquarie Radio.

BK

Kohli eyes glory in Australia

Virat Kohli is at the top of his game but he must get his other batters to perform if he is to grab the crowning glory of Indias first Test series victory in Australia. Kohli, 30, has led Indias batting charge with admirable consistency across all three formats as he tops the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings in Test and one-day internationals. Dubbed King Kohli by the Indian media, the star batsman and India skipper has accumulated 1,063 runs in 18 Test innings this year, number one ahead of England skipper Joe Root (948 runs, 24 innings). But as series defeats in South Africa and England this year showed, Kohli piling on the runs will be no guarantee of victory when the four-Test series starts on Thursday in Adelaide. Kohli made 286 in three South Africa Tests but India lost the series 2-1 while the worlds top Test side went down to England 4-1 despite the captains 593 runs in five matches. Apart from Kohli himself no other batsman is making runs. So one mans show is not likely to win you a series overseas, veteran sports journalist Ayaz Memon told AFP. India started the key Australia tour with a loss in the first Twenty20 on November 21 but went on to level the three-match series after the second game was rained off and they won the final match. But it is the five-day format that Kohli and India are looking to conquer, with India never having won a series in Australia in more than 70 years of trying. Indias dismal record Down Under, which started with a crushing series loss to Don Bradmans side in 1948, is just five wins in 44 Tests. Kohli is confident that now is the time to buck the that trend. Looking at how much experience we have gained in the four years since we have last been here, and how the team has played, we definitely feel we have what it takes to win Test matches away from home, he said in an interview with Macquarie Radio. BK