Captain Kohli doubtful starter for Dharamsala Test
India captain Virat Kohli is doubtful for the fourth and final Test against Australia after suffering a shoulder injury in the penultimate match in Ranchi.
The 28-year-old Kohli damaged his right shoulder when diving to save a boundary on the first day of the penultimate Test in Ranchi and was off the field during most of Australia's first innings in the drawn game.
"I'm not different from anyone else, same process applies for me as it does for all the other members of the team. There is no special treatment for anyone... obviously, I'm 100 percent fit for the game is the only condition that I will take the field. The rules apply for everyone," Kohli said at a press conference on the eve of the 4th and final Test in Dharamsala.
"The physio wants to give it a bit more time till I can test myself. (We will) take a call later tonight or tomorrow," Kohli told reporters on Friday.
"I wouldn’t say it is a normal feeling. It is obviously different from how you play at 100% fitness. Those are the things that you need to address when you are going through (fitness) tests. As a batsman, you want to prepare a certain way. As a fielder, you want to contribute a certain way. Certainly, at this stage, the injury has an element of being aggravated in the field," Kohli’s answer was a giveaway as to how he is feeling physically at this point in time.
Kohli said that he is trying to buy some time till evening to see if he can get back normal movements.
"While batting, there is no problem whatsoever of it getting aggravated. So it’s a bit different obviously from when you are 100% fit. Again, you never know. I have taken medication after the last game, so I am just hoping that it takes me a bit more time to get back to the normal movements that I have. As I said, I have to give it a few more hours and take that call."
Kohli said that he needs to be sure if he is in a condition to face bowlers sending down deliveries at 140 clicks plus pace even though he wants to push himself as a skipper.
"We have to check with physio as to how my condition in a full-match scenario, bowling at 140kmph and playing against that bowling. Reactive movements in the field where I am able to move when I am hundred percent or not, kept in mind before taking that decision. But as a player, as a captain, obviously you want to push yourself to take the field, if you can to help team’s cause. As I said, we need to wait a bit more before we can take that decision."
Mumbai's Shreyas Iyer was brought on as cover for the injured Kohli and Kohli said he was confident the team can do well even in his absence.
"If not, I'm sure the guys will take it as an opportunity to still take the team ahead," he said.
"Me playing or not playing should not be so much of a difference to the other 10 guys... I've not done anything special so far but still the guys have fought it out. That shows why we are the number one team in the world."
Kohli had, on Thursday, skipped batting at India's net session. He was present at the ground with his team-mates. With a bandaged right shoulder, Kohli took part in the customary warm-up.
He did some under-arm throwing during fielding practice. Perhaps it was more to do with not exerting pressure on his hurt shoulder.
For the record, Kohli said that the series-decider that will be played in Dharamsala is like any other Test match.
"Every match is as crucial for me. It’s no different. It's a game of cricket. It can be made out to be a certain way, saying it's the most crucial game of my career or captaincy career, but I won't put it that way. I don’t see any other game or any other opposition differently. Those things remain the same in my head and as I said, you want to be fit for the game 100%, but sometimes you have to respect the fact that these things are a part of your career as well," he said.
The series is tied at 1-1 with the winner-takes-all fourth Test starting on Saturday.
