‘Kohli will be the X-factor in SA series’: Kirmani hails India skipper as ‘most consistent batsman’

After building a fortress at home that’s been impenetrable over the last two years, Virat Kohli and his men have embarked on a mission to win away and become one of the best sides ever to play Test cricket. On their first stop, South Africa, awaits one of the most dangerous bowling sides in the world. Yet several former Indian cricketers, including Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, believe this team will be the first to win a Test series there.

Joining the list is Syed Kirmani. “The Indian team that’s there in South Africa is a well balanced one with excellent batsmen and good pace bowlers. We also have able spinners in [Ravindra] Jadeja and [Ravichandran] Ashwin,” he told The Field when he called on the Indian blind cricket team ahead of their departure for the 2018 ODI World Cup.

But the best praise he reserved for the Indian team’s skipper. He called Kohli “a legend in the making.”

“They are led by an exceptional captain. [Kohli] is one batsman who I keenly watch. I haven’t seen anyone from my generation or from this generation who has been this consistent across all three formats. He will be the X-factor in the series.”

Having featured in 40 of India’s Tests away, the horseshoe-moustachioed former wicketkeeper said, for Wriddhiman Saha to do well behind the wickets, he’ll have to “adapt well to the conditions.”

Saha has 33 dismissals in 13 Tests away so far but hasn’t played a Test in South Africa. “Making certain adjustments quickly is the key to succeed in foreign conditions. And, South Africa provides nice, bouncy tracks,” he said. “But Saha, I think, is capable of doing that.”

Asked about the teams’ preference of a ‘keeper-batsman over a specialist wicket-keeper, he said, “This change came about during the time of [Sourav] Ganguly and [Sachin] Tendulkar. This strategy is basically to include another all-rounder in the team – a player who can bat and keep well.”

Mentioning Parthiv Patel, Naman Ojha and Saha, he said, “The ‘keeper who’s most consistent will be picked in the team. And, at the moment, it is Saha.”