IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli’s Absence Will Create “Void” For India – Sachin Tendulkar

Former Indian cricketer and legend Sachin Tendulkar feels that Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s absence in the last 3-Tests of the 4-Match series will leave a ‘void’ in the dressing room.

Virat Kohli is scheduled to fly back after playing the first Test, starting from December 17 in Adelaide, to be with his wife Anushka Sharma who is going to give birth to their first child in January. BCCI had already granted him the paternity leave.

At the same time, former great Sachin Tendulkar feels that India has a good bench strength and some youngster will definitely grab the opportunity and do well in Kohli’s absence.

“When you lose an experienced player like this (Kohli) there is without any doubt a void,” Tendulkar, the record run-maker and former India captain told AFP in an interview.

“But let’s understand, this is not about individuals. It is about our team and the best part about Indian cricket right now is there is bench strength.

“So Virat has to come back for personal reasons and some youngster is going to get a chance to play in his spot and that’s an opportunity for someone else,” added Tendulkar.

Australia beat India in the one-day series 2-1, with the tourists reversing the result in the Twenty20 matches.

They Have Warner, Smith & Labuschagne: Sachin Tendulkar

Further, Tendulkar said that the hosts will be a lot stronger than the last time around when India beat them 2-1 at home in the Test series.

“From the last time that Australia played India they have got three important players. They have got Warner who is back in the team, Smith and (Marnus) Labuschagne,” said Tendulkar.

“This is a far better squad compared to the earlier one. When a couple of your senior members are not there, suddenly that void is felt and that is what Australia felt.”

Notably, David Warner and Steve Smith missed the last home Test series against India due to ball-tampering suspensions that kept them out two years ago.

At the same time, Tendulkar said that India’s bowling attack with the presence of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin is strong and will surely challenge the hosts.

“Every era should be kept separate, I don’t like comparing,” he said when asked if this was the strongest attack India has produced.

“But I can say that it (India) is a complete bowling attack. So it doesn’t matter what kind of surface you are playing on, you have got all sides covered.

“You have got bowlers who can swing the ball. When it comes to variations and awkwardness, that is also there.

“Someone hitting the deck hard is also there. We have got a wrist spinner, we have got finger spinners.”