Injured India captain Virat Kohli should not to take a risk by coming out to bat in the ongoing third Test against Australia unless it is absolutely necessary, Sunil Gavaskar said on Friday.
Since the Ranchi pitch is still good for batting, India should be able to get close to Australia’s first-innings total of 451 without Kohli’s contribution, the former India captain said, as reported by PTI.
“Look, the injury may not be very serious,” Gavaskar told NDTV. “But he is a man who loves to be on the field, and the fact that he was not on the field means that the injury was a little more than what is given out [to be]. So, he can rest completely... he can be fit for the next Test.”
Kohli should come in to bat “only if it’s a dire situation where India suddenly collapses, don’t have too many runs and need to ensure that the Australians do not take a big lead in the first innings,” Gavaskar added. “Then and then only Virat Kohli should come out to bat.”
Kohli could not field after landing awkwardly on his right shoulder while trying to save a boundary in the post-lunch session on day one of the match on Thursday.
India ended the second day on 120/1. They trail Australia by 331 runs, who posted 451 in their first innings after centuries by Steve Smith (178*) and Glenn Maxwell (104).
