Five current Test batsmen who would have succeeded against fast bowlers of the 90s era

1. Virat Kohli

Every time Virat Kohli scores Test hundred in difficult conditions, every time he scripts a new record for himself with the bat, one of the first questions that the detractor asks, ‘Would have been as successful in the 1990s against the likes of McGrath, Akram, Donald, Ambrose, as he is in today’s era? 

People often shrugged off his achievements by saying, ‘Oh! The standard of bowling isn’t that good these days, Sachin faced better bowlers than him’. But, little that they forget that Virat is among that rare breed of batsmen who thrives in adversity, who want to get challenged against the best. And, his struggles followed by his redemption in England bore the greatest example to it.

Back in 2014, Virat’s technique against the swinging and his weakness outside the off-stump was exposed to the hilt by the English bowlers, especially James Anderson. So, what did Kohli do? Four years later, he returned with redemption. He made that subtle adjustment of standing just a few inches ahead of his crease in order to counter the late movement. As a result, Kohli was involved in poetic violence of the highest order against the Dukes and ensured he did not get out to Anderson on a single occasion throughout the series.

Kohli thrives in adversity and facing the fast bowling attack of the 1990s is the adversity of the highest order, something he would have really relished. 

Honorable mentions- Chesteshwar Pujara, Joe Root