Despite the fact that the Indian skipper Virat Kohli is not the highest run-scorer in the ongoing Test series in Australia like the previous overseas tours of South Africa and England, his fan following in those parts of the world has kept on growing. On Tuesday, as the Indian and Australian teams reached the official residence of the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Sydney on the occasion of the New Year’s Day, Kohli was introduced as a “cricket crush”.
Team India is having an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series and even a draw in the series finale in Sydney starting Thursday will see them creating history by winning their maiden Test series at the Australian soil. India completely outplayed the hosts in all departments in the third Test in Melbourne and won the match by 137 runs after the hosts tied the series 1-1 in Perth.
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With India winning their first Boxing Day Test, Virat equaled the record of former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly to win the most number of Tests on the overseas tour and also became only the second Indian captain after Bishan Singh Bedi to win two Tests Down Under.
During Kohli’s introduction, the lady announcer said, “’It now gives me great pleasure to introduce…I’ve got a total cricket crush (a major admirer of his cricket skill) on this guy. Mr Virat Kohli, known worldwide as the best batsmen in the world and that passion that he brings on the pitch and on the field is just so exciting to watch…even though I hope you lose this week!”
Virat Kohli, who later called it a “lovely introduction”, has hit only one century in the series so far equalling compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s record of six Test centuries on the Australian soil. While his century could not help India win the match in Sydney, his on-field gestures during the game also came under scrutiny. But the Indian sipper buried the past by leading his team to win the third Test to take an unassailable lead. The ball is now in Australia’s court to save the blushes by squaring the series.
