Australia veterans praise Virat Kohli, label him as 'one of the most influential players'

Wary of Virat Kohli ahe of two-month-long tour, former Australia captain Mark Taylor has remarked that Team India skipper is a 'very powerful guy' in world cricket, ding that he can perform as an aggressive cricketer and statesman as well. Heaping praise on Kohli, Taylor ded that Indian skipper has strong views and is never shy of expressing himself. Echoing similar views, former India he coach Greg Chappel also hailed Kohli's fondness of Test cricket. Virat Kohli is set to le in Team India in upcoming limited-overs series against Australia and first Test of Border Gavaskar Trophy before returning home for birth of his first child. 

"I think he is a very powerful guy in world cricket, but I think he does a very good job to walk that fine line in being an aggressive cricketer and also a statesman. I think he's doing it very well. I think he treats that responsibility with great respect. He's still very much his own person when you watch him play," PTI quoted former Australia skipper Mark Taylor. 

Highlighting Kohli's love for Test cricket, Greg Chappel said, "I think he's certainly one of best players and one of most influential players in world cricket at moment. He loves Test cricket and while he's playing India will treat Test cricket with respect because he has a big say in Indian cricket. That's a good thing." 

"If you have a captain of India who is t interested in Test cricket that will impact scene. Virat loves Test cricket, he champions Test cricket, and while that's happening India will play Test cricket," Chappel ded.

Meanwhile, former Australia He Coach Daren Lehmann reckons that Indian skipper will be pumped up for only Test that he will be playing at elaide. "He always pushes boundaries, but that's what great players do. He wants to win every game. That was one of more fiery ones [2017 series] going around in recent years," Lehmann said.

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'Pucovski should open'

Backing young gun Will Pucovski to open innings along with David Warner, former Australia skipper Mark Taylor believes that Joe Burns should be snubbed. Urging selectors to allow Pucovski to open innings, Taylor opined that Burns avers 38 in Test cricket and young gun is in great form so he should be picked. Taylor also praised youngster for taking a six-week break from cricket to deal with mental health issues during 2018-19 home summer.

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Australia 'love to hate' Kohli

With India-Australia series nearing closer, heat between two squs is alrey visible as Tim Paine has alrey shrugged off Men in Blue captain Virat Kohli as 'just ar player'. Australian Test skipper has remarked that he does t have a relationship with Kohli but y 'love to hate' him. “I get asked a log of questions about Virat Kohli, he’s just ar player to me it doesn’t really bor me. re’s t really a relationship re with him to be fair, I see him at toss and play against him and that’s about it,” Paine told ABC Sport.

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India tour of Australia 

India will kick off ir tour to Australia with a three-match ODI series starting on Friday, 27 vember, followed by as many T20Is and four Tests. T20Is will be played in Canberra (4 December) and Sydney (6, 8 December). 

first Test will be a day/night affair, from 17-21 December at elaide Oval. Melbourne Cricket Ground (26-30 December) will host Boxing Day Test, before action moves to Sydney Cricket Ground (7-11 January) and Gabba (15-19 January). With India currently on top of World Test Championship table and Australia in second, series is expected to be a thriller, as it will also be a part of ICC World Test Championship. 

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