'Who’ll bat at four when Virat Kohli goes?' - Ricky Ponting shoots some vital questions for India

The most-awaited rivalry between India and Australia is all set to commence on November 27 with an ODI. The T20I and Test series will follow up after it, where both squads will put their best show on display to steal the glory. The most debated topic around the series is who would lead Team India in the Test series after Virat Kohli’s departure? Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes that visitors need to answer a few questions soon.

Rahane is India’s deputy in the longest format of the game, and he would be expected to take the charge. However, BCCI is yet to announce the skipper in Kohli’s absence. Ponting believes that there would be an added pressure on Rahane when he would be up to lead his side in the last three Tests against hosts. India needs to find someone who can shoulder the responsibility well at no.4 spot for their crucial tour.

“India will feel that without Kohli there (for three Tests), for his batting and leadership, that’ll put all sorts of pressure on different players. You’d think (Ajinkya) Rahane will take over the captaincy, which will put extra pressure on him, and they’ve got to find someone to bat at that really important No.4 spot,” said Ponting as quoted by cricket.com.au.

Who’s going to open, who’ll bat at four when Virat Kohli goes?: Ponting

Kohli would only be there for the day-night Adelaide Test match before packing his bags for India. The Indian skipper has been granted a paternity leave to be with his wife, Anushka Sharma, for the birth of their first child. The former Australian also stated that a lot of questions are being pointed over their squad, but India needs to answer a few more at the current time. More than his men, Indians would be under pressure while coming up for the Test series, he added.

“I don’t think they’ll be clear in their own mind, even now, what their batting order will look like for the first Test. Who’s going to open, who’ll bat at four when Kohli goes? The questions that are being asked around Australia with Pucovski and Green, I think India have got a few more questions to answer,” concluded Ponting.