Australia vs. India preview: Why Kohli won't decide the series

The long-awaited build up to India’s first test against Australia is almost over, and as always seems to be the case, Virat Kohli is very much at the centre of everyone’s attention. Of course, he is the dominant batsman in world cricket at the moment and will play a vital role if India are to win their first ever test series in Australia. However, the focus should really be on the other batsmen in India’s team. It is not Kohli who will win or lose the series, but the rest of the top 6 who have so much to prove.

Looking back at India’s recent tours to South Africa, England and their last trip to Australia show an ever-present pattern. During their tour in 2014/15 in Australia, Kohli racked up 692 runs and 4 centuries at an average of 86.5, contributing 25% of India’s runs, yet India still lost comfortably 2-0. While Rahane and Vijay did average over 50, it still illustrates how well the entire team must play to grind out a victory down under.

Cast an eye to their tour of South Africa earlier this year, and it paints a similar picture. Kohli scored 286 runs at 47.67, yet no other player bar Bhuvneshwar Kumar averaged over 30, failing to back up their captain when he needed it most as India lost 2-1. The most recent example in England saw another magnificent performance from Kohli as he racked up another 593 runs but failed to find support all too often. KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane all averaged under 30, all of which look to have an important role in the upcoming series.

What we can take away from this is that not only has Kohli more regularly proven himself abroad in the past few years, but that his contribution is not the vital factor. Even when scoring big hundreds and contributing over 20% of the runs, it’s largely wasted should his teammates fail to back him up.

With a stronger bowling attack this time round and a weak looking Australian batting order, it is likely to be a slightly lower scoring affair than their last tour, putting greater importance on Kohli’s contributions. As far as memory serves, no individual has ever won an away series almost single handed because it’s impossible. He’s already scored 692 in 4 tests in Australia and lost, 593 in England and lost, he could make 800 in this series and still potentially lose if the rest of the top order fail.

It is unlikely Kohli will fail in Australia on recent form, he will likely continue to contribute a vast proportion of his team’s runs, but to pin the hopes of India on his back is a grave miscalculation. The series will not be decided by Kohli, it will be won or lost by the other batsmen in the top 6 and how well they can support their talismanic captain.