Australia's Labuschagne aspires to emulate Virat Kohli as top performer in all formats

In-form Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne says he considers upcoming ODI series against India a big opportunity in his quest to emulate Virat Kohli and Steve Smith across all formats. 22-year-old right-handed batsman scored back-to-back Test centuries against Pakistan and ar ton and a double hundred against New Zealand in summer before embarking on ODI tour of India where he will find out wher he makes his shorter-format debut or t. Labuschagne, who can be handy with his leg-breaks, says long-term consistency across formats would be his major goals for future.

"You look at guys I look up to and aspire to -- Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Joe Root. y've been doing it for a very long time, five, six years y've been consistent, t just in one format, but two or more formats," Labuschagne was quoted as saying by 'ESPNCricinfo'.

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Labuschagne aspires to emulate Virat Kohli

Australia will play a three-match ODI series against India starting January 14 in Mumbai. team landed in country on Thursday night.

"...I've had some success this summer but real challenge for me is to be more consistent going on and being able to keep putting continued performances on board. If I can continue to do that, n that's obviously going to be challenge for me," said Labuschagne who has scored 1459 runs from 14 Tests.

Having got his first chance to be in white ball squad, he said one-day series in India would be an opportunity to show a slightly different aspect of his game.

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"...that's a really exciting challenge too. It's going to be tough conditions in India and y're obviously a very strong side. So just about enjoying challenge and t getting too far ahead of yourself, taking it ball by ball and game by game," he said.

"A big part of playing in India is how you play spin, so for me being clear with my plans about how I play spin and n just trusting processes I have.

"Batting in middle order it's about running really hard between wickets and trying to get those runs through middle, n when you get opportunity towards back end to open shoulders a bit."

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Labuschagne said would like to follow path of former Australia batsman Michael Hussey as far as adapting to different conditions is concerned. "With opportunities that might come in next few months, we'll have to see, but definitely Michael Hussey is a great person to learn from," Labuschagne said.  " way he played one-day game, way he finished off innings and way he probably started his innings. re are a few similarities re, but I'm definitely t comparing myself to Michael Hussey."

If he gets a chance to make his ODI debut in India, Labuschagne may play a somewhat different role than his preferred .3 spot. With Aaron Finch, David Warner and Smith seemingly confirmed for top order, Labuschagne, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey and Ashton Turner may be tried in remaining spots.  "Whatever role I'm given is one I'm going to try and keep. If that's batting in top four or even outside top four, whatever that is. " whole one-day game's moved in that more aggressive, positive direction, but I've been lucky I've been able to move with that and play in this era where one-day cricket is a really high scoring game." 

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