Australia vs India: Unlike past Indian captains, Virat Kohli is glad to see green cover in Perth

There was a time when opponents outside Asia welcomed India with pitches that were dreaded by the Asian side, not only because their batsmen felt vulnerable before the hosts’ fast bowling on those fast tracks but also because India themselves lacked enough firepower in their bowling to hit back.

The results that followed were thus too predictable and one-sided. However, it looked a thing of the past when current Indian captain Virat Kohli was equally eager to play seeing a green cover being prepared for the second Test against Australia starting at the Perth Stadium on Friday.

In a pre-match press conference on the eve of the game, Kohli looked eager to play on the grassy wicket and his strength came from the fact the Indian side too has good fast bowlers now who can exploit the conditions to the fullest. He cited the example of the Johannesburg Test that India played in South Africa earlier this year. India were bowled out below 250 twice in that Test but their bowlers fought back to eventually give their side a 63-run win.

India’s bowling attack now as formidable as anybody

“We certainly get more excited than nervous looking at lively pitches now. We understand that we do have a bowling attack which can bowl the opposition out as much as they are convinced about their attack. When you have four or five fast bowlers who are at the peak of their ability, it’s always a great feeling to have in the side,” the Indian captain said while speaking with the media. India included two more pacers in their 13-member squad ahead of the Test in Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, taking the total number of bowlers to five.

Australia opted for a green cover at the Perth Stadium which is hosting its first Test match, hoping that it would rattle the Indian side which is leading the four-match series 1-0. India came back strongly, riding a fine century from Cheteshwar Pujara, to win the first Test in Adelaide by 31 runs, thereby making history of winning the first Test in a series Down Under first time ever.

India though will miss Ravichandran Ashwin, one of the key architects of their win in Adelaide since he has an abdominal strain and has been ruled out of the Perth game.

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