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Home > Sports News > Cricket News > Article > Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharmas absence will leave a big hole

'Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's absence will leave a big hole'

Updated on: 25 November,2020 07:22 AM IST  |  Sydney
PTI |

Thats what Australian batsman Steve Smith feels will happen to Team India in the absence of injured Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli, who will be returning home on paternity leave

'Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's absence will leave a big hole'

Steve Smith; (right) India skipper Virat Kohliand teammate Rohit Sharma during a 2015 Colombo Test against SL at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Pic/Getty Images

Star Australia batsman Steve Smith reckons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's absence will leave a "big hole" in the Indian team but the visitors have a lot of talented players who can put their hands up in pressure situations.


Rohit, who is nursing a hamstring injury, is out of white ball series and is still doubtful starter for Test matches while skipper Kohli will be on paternity leave after the first day/night Test in Adelaide.


"Look, Rohit is obviously a tremendous white-ball player, he has proven that for a number of years now at the top of the order, so obviously it leaves a bit of hole," Smith said during a virtual press conference facilitated by Sony Network.


"But I guess the beauty with the Indian team is there are so many batters coming through, that are of high quality." Smith spoke about Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul, who were on fire during the IPL. "You can look at someone like Mayank Agarwal in the IPL, just smashed, KL Rahul in the top order as well. There are plenty of options there for them so, look you leave a hole no doubt, but quality players there to back him up," Smith explained.

He feels that it's the same for Kohli in Test matches. "The same [like Rohit] I think with Virat and the Test squad. You know there are a number of players who can come in and do a good job.

"Virat is of obviously of high quality and we know how good he has been in all forms for a long period of times, so it is certainly going to leave a hole but I still do believe that they have got some quality batters waiting in the wings to fill that void."

During last India Test series in Australia, Smith was banned for ball tampering and missed out on challenging one of his favourite opposition. Will it make him hungrier? "I don't know if it makes me hungrier. I am always pretty hungry to go out and perform and do well. I guess it was tough watching from the sidelines and with the team not doing as well," he said.

282
No. of runs Kohli scored during the 2018-19 Test series v Aus

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