#AUSvIND: Virat Kohli rewrites history again - Know how
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli went on to rewrite history in Test cricket. For only the third time in Tests, India went into a match with no specialist spinner in the starting XI. Kohli selected a 4-man pace attack for the ongoing second Test against Australia being held in Perth. Here's more on the same.
For the second time, Kohli leaves a spinner out
This was for the second time under Kohli's captaincy that India fielded no specialist spinner in a Test match. Prior to the Perth Test match, Kohli selected a 4-man pace attack against South Africa earlier this year. That was during the third Test played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. The talks of a lively and fast pitch did the rounds prior to this Test.
Jaddu overlooked, Umesh gets the nod in second Test
With R Ashwin ruled out of this Test due to injury, it was expected that all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja would replace him. Jaddu was named in the 13-man squad announced on Thursday. But, Kohli went the other way and handed a call-up to pacer Umesh Yadav. India also decided against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the playing XI.
Under MSD, India had fielded no spinner before
The first time India played a Test without a specialist spinner, was at the WACA in Perth back in 2011-12 series. MS Dhoni was the skipper back then. Umesh, along with Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma were selected, as India lost the Test.
Curator Brett Sipthorpe had prepared a bouncy wicket in Perth
Earlier, WACA curator Brett Sipthorpe had revealed that a green, fast and bouncy wicket will await both sides in Perth. According to a report in cricket.com.au, Sipthorpe said, "We've just been told make it fast, make it bouncy if you can and run with it". He went on to add, "We're just trying to produce the bounciest pitch we can."
The move can backfire: Our take
It remains to be seen how the move works for India. Aussies have issues against spin and that was seen in the first Test. Also, India's batting is weakened. Jadeja's all-round ability will be missed big time in this Test. The move can backfire.
