Kohli's 5-Man Attack Will Pose Some Challenges for India's Batting

Virat Kohli has continued to stamp his aggressive mark on the Indian Test team by suggesting India will continue with a five-man bowling attack against Sri Lanka. The Indian skipper was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo as saying:

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That [playing with five bowlers] could be a big possibility. The idea is to take 20 wickets. That's that only way you win a Test match and I strongly believe we need to have the best bowlers playing in the squad.

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While the prospect of weakening the batting lineup might intimidate many captains, Kohli believes that this approach is all part of the evolution of team India. The new captain wants to entrust the players who are in the team already with more responsibility to see them grow and stabilise the team. Kohli said:

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We have people like Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harbhajan Singh, who are very handy with the bat. Ashwin averages about 40 in Test-match cricket. So, I don't see any reason why he can't be the all-rounder for us. It is all about giving people goals and asking them to improve on certain aspects and provide that extra balance the team requires.

I strongly feel that you have to play a stronger bowling side to win Test matches. And your batsmen have to take more responsibility, which is challenging but at the same time it is exciting.

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It’s a refreshingly honest approach to press conferences from Kohli and the desire to be aggressive is encouraging. But a maverick approach does not come without its challenges. India recently opted for the five-bowlers/six-batsmen approach against Bangladesh.

The Test was heavily affected by rain, so judging the impact is not possible, but let’s take a look at some of the potential stumbling blocks and possible successes Kohli’s approach will have.

Rohit Sharma’s consistency at three

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Rohit Sharma has played just 11 Tests and batted at three for just two of those Tests.  Barring his hundred on his Test debut against the West Indies in 2013, Sharma has struggled for consistency and has managed just two fifties in his Test career. Stability at No. 3 and a reliable batsman who can dig in if the pressure is on is crucial.

At the moment, Sharma doesn’t really offer that in Tests. Assuming the six-batsmen approach will see him retain his No. 3 spot, Sharma will have to crank it up quite significantly in order to be effective.

Preventing the bowlers from getting tired

Sri Lankan tracks often offer big runs for the home team. While Sri Lanka might be in a “transitional phase,” they are still capable of piling on the runs. An extra bowler takes some of the pressure off the pace bowlers and means India can get through the overs quicker. The trick then is to make sure Kohli uses his attacking bowlers properly.

Pressure on the top order

Assuming Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan keep their opening spots, there will be significant pressure on both of them to perform in every Test. Of course it's the job of openers to see off the new ball and set a foundation, but when there is even the slightest hint of weakness in the middle order, the pressure on the guys at the top increase.

Both batsmen average over 40.00 in Tests, which is a good start. Vijay is by far the more consistent of the pair; he has four fifties and two tons in his last 10 innings. Dhawan, on the other hand, has just two fifties and two hundreds in his last 16 innings. Dhawan is a talented batsman, but he needs to start delivering in Tests in order for Kohli’s approach to be truly successful.

Actually taking those 20 wickets

Some wise-cracking commenters will tell you that, even if you play 10 bowlers, they are no good if you cannot pick up those 20 wickets. India’s bowling attack has come on leaps and bounds in recent months, but it haven’t been able to pick up 20 scalps consistently.

The phrase “we need to take 20 wickets” is not new; they have been repeating it since traveling to England in 2014. The problem is it hasn’t happen. Sri Lanka’s pitches have been far more competitive recently, but bowlers will still have to box clever to get 20 scalps.

Experience of the lower order

Kohli is spot-on when he says that his lower-order players are more than apt, but if the top order fails, will the lower order have the experience to dig in and form partnerships if it’s only them remaining? Hypothetically, too, if the top order fails and the bowlers have to get the runs, how will that impact their bowling?

Test cricket is all about challenges, and India certainly have a few ahead. Everyone might not agree with Kohli’s approach, but it’s encouraging that he is not afraid to try things and speak his mind on how he thinks things should be. The tour to Sri Lanka has the possibility of giving India a momentum boost ahead of South Africa’s visit in a few months. If they can iron out the creases and find the right combination before the Proteas visit, it’s going to be a fantastic series.