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Virat Kohli indicates India will go into Bangladesh Test with five-bowler strategy

Virat Kohli to lead India in clash against fiery Bangladesh

India’s new full-time Test captain Virat Kohli has stated in an interview that there is ‘every possibility’ that India will opt for a five-bowler strategy for their upcoming match against Bangladesh in Fatullah. 

"I certainly believe that you need to take 20 wickets to win a Test match. Out of your batting unit, you need 2-3 people to click to get a score of 500. So I certainly believe in giving our team a chance to pick up 20 wickets. I am a big fan of the 6-5 combination." Kohli stated to the press. 

Under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, India has always preferred the extra batsman being taken rather than a fifth bowler. Statistics show that first-class teams have made 500+ scores 10 times in Fatullah, half of which came in the last season. Hence, having an extra bowler seems like a correct tactical ploy. 

Expect a high-scoring game: Kohli

"It looks like a pretty nice and hard wicket with no grass on it," Kohli said. "Waiting for bowlers and the bowling coach to have a look at the wicket. We will have to figure out how much the wicket will break down, and if we need the third spinner or third seamer throughout the game. You can expect a high-scoring game." 

This time, Kohli has the experience and expertise of Harbhajan Singh to factor into his bowling brigade, apart from the four pacers, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav.  

"We have to discuss it, and we will take a call on it by the evening," Kohli said. "We have to consider which bowler will have impact on days three, four and five."

Though India haven’t played a Test in Bangladesh since 2010, and have never done so in Fatullah, Kohli believes his team has enough to go on. 

"Wickets in Bangladesh are similar everywhere. There's no change of soil. Most of the guys have played here last year," he insisted. Among the current squad only Umesh, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha had come by for a three-ODI series last June.

Kohli’s decision to have a 6-5 combination has surely raised a few eyebrows and his captaincy skills are most definitely going to be put to test.

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