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“I am not different from anyone else. The same process applies for me, as it does for every other player in the team. There is no special treatment for anyone. Obviously, I will take the field only if I am 100 per cent fit for the game"
The stage is set for an enticing finish to the ongoing series between India and Australia. Both teams have come hard at each other and the games are level. Kohli is charged up, leads from the front and gets the best and worst out of his teammates and rivals respectively. But the mercurial Indian skipper's injury has placed a big question mark over his ability to play the final and crucial Test match; the possibility of him missing out is only too real.
When the top five batsmen in the Indian squad padded up for an intense training session at the nets, Kohli was conspicuous in his absence. He joined his teammates a bit later, accompanied by team physio Patrick Farhat, but did not join them.
He did some knocking in the nets, facing a handful of deliveries by coach Anil Kumble. The latter then patted him on the shoulder and he walked in to address the waiting media ahead of the deciding match.
It was a subdued Kohli that responded to the queries—in stark contrast to the charged-up one that got under the Australian media's skin in the previous Test matches.
Asked whether he was fit and if he would play, Kohli said, “I am not different from anyone else. The same process applies for me, as it does for every other player in the team. There is no special treatment for anyone. Obviously, I will take the field only if I am 100 per cent fit for the game.
Kohli, the leading run scorer in the current home season for the Indian team, has not been able to perform with the bat as well as he had done in the previous three series. So far, Kohli has scored a total of 46 runs in the three Tests in the current series.
He mentioned that he would undergo a fitness test later in the day. He will continue playing only if he clears it. As the rest of the team packed up after a strenuous two hour long practice session, Kohli padded up and faced two dozen odd throwdowns from the support staff, overseen by batting coach Sanjay Bangar and physio Farhat. That appeared to be the 'test', the results of which are awaited.
Asked about how he felt batting with the injured shoulder, Kohli said, "When you have reactive moments, it is then that the magnitude of your injury comes out. Those are the things we need to keep in mind. The physio wants to give it a bit more time. We will probably take a call on it later tonight or tomorrow before the game.”
Australian skipper Steve Smith, when asked if Kohli's absence would be an advantage, kept his joy under the lid. He said, "I think that will be fine. Ajinkya Rahane will captain their side. I think he did a pretty good job last week when he was out on the field in Virat’s absence. So he will be confident about doing a good job.”
Rahane, the vice captain of the Indian team had taken charge in Kohli's absence in the Ranchi test match. At that time, the chips were down for Indian bowlers and Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell were looking to build up a solid partnership.
Kohli was off the field for 400 minutes— coming out only to bat in India's first innings.
Rahane loked to control the flow of runs. Speaking about the different captaincy styles of Rahane and Kohli, Smith made no bones that he would rather welcome Rahane's calmer approach in the middle as compared to Kohli's. “He (Rahane) is probably a bit more chilled out on the field, probably not as emotional. But I think he understand the game really well. I have been fortunate enough to play a fair bit of cricket with Ajinkya and I think the reads and understands the game really well. If Virat were to miss this Test, I am sure the Indian side will still be in very good hands.”
Team India, who have claimed the number one spot in ICC Test rankings under Virat's leadership doesn't back off—a quality that makes opposition fret. If Kohli has to sit out the crucial series decider, it will be a big setback for him as a batsman and a leader.
