Life begins for Team India, minus the talismanic MS Dhoni. Virat Kohli begins the new year on the hotseat. A legitimate successor to Dhoni, Sydney will not only test Kohli's ability as a cricketer but how he handles pressure situations. (SCORECARD | SCHEDULE | NEWS )
File photo of Virat Kohli.
© AFP
India will play for pride in Sydney. Australia have been virtually unbeatable here, having won 10 of their last 11 Tests at the SCG. They may have pocketed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but Sydney will be a special game for the home team. The Aussies return to the venue where Phillip Hughes was fatally struck by a bouncer last month.
Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon, Shane Watson and David Warner were fielding at the Sydney Cricket Ground when Hughes sustained the sickening blow to his neck, never regaining consciousness and eventually passing away three days before his 26th birthday. Australia coped well with the tragedy to take an unassailable 2-0 lead against India and coach Darren Lehmann is in no doubt that emotion will run high. Winning will be the perfect gift for Hughes.
Stories of dressing room rifts will take a backseat when Kohli goes out to toss. This match could see new players in new positions. There is news that Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan may make way for Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina. Lokesh Rahul, who made an unimpressive debut at Melbourne, may open the batting with Murali Vijay.
Kohli has some personal milestones in sight. Should he score a century in Sydney, he will join Herbert Sutcliffe and Wally Hammond as the only visiting batsmen to make four hundreds in one Test series in Australia. The Aussies will do everything to get under his skin.
Sydney has some bitter memories for Team India. The Monekygate row and Fingergate (featuring Kohli) are as fresh in memory like the defeats in each of the two occasions India have played here.
Australia will not disturb a winning combination. Left arm quick Mitchell Starc will replace injured seamer Mitchell Johnson. Starc, who took two wickets and hit a 50 in the four-wicket victory over India in the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, was named ahead of fellow quick Peter Siddle and the spin option of Ashton Agar. The tall 24-year-old has taken 45 wickets in his 14 previous Tests.
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