Kohli looks ‘menacing’ ahead of Australia Test series, India warns

Jasprit Bumrah to captain India in first Test against Australia (SAEED KHAN)

Jasprit Bumrah to captain India in first Test against Australia (SAEED KHAN)

Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah insisted on Thursday that India were not carrying any baggage from their Test whitewash by New Zealand and warned Australia that star batsman Virat Kohli looked “menacing”.

India head into the first of five Tests against Australia on Friday in Perth after their first home series defeat in 12 years.

But speedster Bumrah, who will captain the team after Rohit Sharma stayed home following the birth of his second child, said they were only looking forward to it.

“The beauty of cricket is that even if you win, you start from scratch, and even if you lose, you start from scratch,” he told reporters.

“That’s how I see the game.

“Obviously, yes, we were disappointed and we were disappointed that we had a tough series (against New Zealand).

“But we don’t carry any baggage. We come with a new mindset, a different opposition and you learn from the changes in our team.”

With Rohit out, either KL Rahul or Abhimanyu Easwaran are in contention to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, while there are doubts over number three Shubman Gill who has injured his thumb.

Their bowling schedule is also unclear. Bumrah said India had decided who would partner him in the attack, but he would wait until the toss to reveal everything.

Kohli is certain to play, but he will come under increasing scrutiny after managing just two Test centuries in the last five years and averaging just 15 against New Zealand.

Despite signs that one of the world’s greatest batsmen may be past his best at 36, Bumrah warned that Kohli should never be written off.

Kohli has an excellent record in Australia, averaging 54.08.

“He’s one of the greats of football,” Bumrah said.

“He is the greatest professional we have on our team. He is very successful.

“Okay, one or two series here and there can go up and down, but the confidence he has right now, I have no doubt.

“He’s looking to contribute. And from the way I’ve seen him in training… the signs are worrying.”

With Bumrah taking the armband, the first Test will have two fast bowlers captaining their teams, with Pat Cummins in charge for Australia.

Bumrah said he was determined to do the job his way.

“I like responsibility. I wanted to do this difficult job since I was a child,” he said.

“I never followed a notebook plan…I never followed a template and I follow my instinct and that’s how I’ve always played cricket.

“I have a lot of trust in my instincts and instincts,” he added.

mp/pst

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