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Will Virat Kohli be able to break Caribbean jinx, slam 1st Test ton against WI?

New Delhi, July 21: As Team India are set to take on the West Indies in a four-Test rubber, all eyes will be on skipper Virat Kohli's performance with the bat on the Caribbean soil.

Ind-WI series schedule</a>; <a href=Preview 1st Test" title="Ind-WI series schedule; Preview 1st Test" />Ind-WI series schedule; Preview 1st Test

The Caribbean islands, where Kohli is touring for the second time, hasn't been a good hunting ground for the explosive Indian right-handed batsman. Kohli's batting figures against West Indies are unimpressive. (Kohli picks Dhawan over Rahul)

Will Virat Kohli be able to break Caribbean jinx, slam 1st Test ton against WI?

During his maiden West Indies tour in 2011, Kohli averaged 15.20. Kohli scored 4, 15, 0, 27 and 30 in the five innings he played on the previous tour of West Indies. That was his debut Test series.

The India captain has an overall average of mere 27.88 against West Indies which is way below his overall batting average of 44.02 in Tests. (Team India's batting line-up is settled: MS Dhoni)

His Test average of 27.88 against the West Indies is only better than his average against England (20.12) and Bangladesh (14).

Surprisingly, Kohli who has slammed 11 Test tons in 41 matches but hasn't scored a single hundred against the Caribbeans despite playing 6 matches against the side.

Kohli's poor form against West Indies perhaps would have been a reason for the then skipper MS Dhoni to abandon chase in the third and final Test match in 2011.

(India will whitewash West Indies 4-0: Suresh Raina)(India will whitewash West Indies 4-0: Suresh Raina)

India needed 86 runs from 15 overs with Dravid and Laxman at the crease with Dhoni and Kohli still to bat, but Dhoni decided to call off the chase.

But, things have changed since then. This isn't the same 'young' Virat that visited West Indies five years back. He's more mature and one of the most feared middle-order batsmen in world cricket.

History tells that Indian batsmen have always excelled in West Indian conditions and went on to becoming legends. Thus, Kohli would be eager to change these unimpressive numbers and dominate the West Indian bowlers on this tour and continue his impressive batting performance on foreign soil.

(Had no clue about Test cricket when I came to West Indies in 2011: Virat Kohli)(Had no clue about Test cricket when I came to West Indies in 2011: Virat Kohli)

In the practice matches against West Indies Crickte Board President's XI, Kohli had shown signs of hunger to score runs. He scored just 14 in the first warm-up game but made 51 runs in the second match. Batting at No. 5, Kohli spent more than two hours at the crease and faced 96 deliveries, which would have certainly boosted his confidence.

But in the first Test match at Antigua, the Indian 'Run Machine' is expected to bat at No. 4. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how the young Indian captain breaks this jinx and continues his domination in world cricket.

OneIndia News

Story first published: Thursday, August 3, 2017, 7:34 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 3, 2017