Virat Kohli’s bloodthirsty response to India’s injury blows

India have lost their two of their biggest stars on the eve of the second Test but a ruthless Virat Kohli believes it could prove a silver lining as the tourists prepare to pray on a vulnerable Australia in Perth.

Ravi Ashwin has been ruled out of the second Test. Picture: AAP

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India have lost their two of their biggest stars but are salivating at the chance to unleash a four-pronged pace attack on a vulnerable Australia in Perth.

Confident captain Virat Kohli refused to take questions about the stunning loss of champion spinner Ravi Ashwin (left-side abdominal strain) and batting star Rohit Sharma (lower back) but intimated they’re looking at the double blow as a blessing in disguise as he preached the virtues of an Indian outfit with an unprecedented thirst for blood and thunder.

Kohli said India would have once been “nervous” at the sight of a green and racy Perth pitch, but are now “excited” at the chance to stick it to the brittle Australian top order.

Ravi Ashwin has been ruled out of the second Test. Picture: AAP

It seems almost certain the tourists will play four quicks on Australian soil for the first time since the WACA Test of 2011-12, although on that occasion David Warner brutalised them with a blazing 180 that ended in a three-day knockout.

Swing specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar is set to join the attack and batting all-rounder Hanuma Vihari will replace Sharma at No.6 and provide the spin overs for captain Kohli. Young gun opener Prithvi Shaw will miss his second straight Test with the ankle he twisted during the tour match in Sydney.

In conceited disregard for their army of fans, India deliberately delayed the naming of their dramatically altered squad until after Kohli’s press conference – however, the skipper was making no secret of his team’s ferocious game plan.

BREAKING: Ravi Ashwin out injured as is Rohit Sharma. Huge blow for India re Ashwin. Opens up possibility they'll play four quicks.

— Ben Horne (@BenHorne8) December 13, 2018

“We certainly get more excited than nervous looking at lively pitches now. We understand that we do have a bowling attack which can bowl the opposition out as much as they are convinced about their own attack,” said Kohli.

“When you have four or five fast bowlers who are at the peak of their ability, it’s always a great feeling to have in the side.

“For us as batsmen it also gives us a lot of motivation and boosts us up that we can put in those match-winning, significant batting performances because we have so much belief in our bowling unit right now.

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“We understand that if we bat well, we will definitely get the result that we want. It’s a very exciting phase to be in but something that we need to build on.

“We cannot be complacent or satisfied with one win.”

Ashwin was a key part of India’s first Test win in Adelaide and would have fancied his chances, like counterpart Nathan Lyon will, on a bouncy Perth deck.

India has won just two of its 10 Tests without Ashwin in its line-up, all which have been outside of the sub-continent.

Swing specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar in Perth. Picture: Getty

They beat England at Lord’s in 2014 and South Africa in a famous victory on a volatile pitch at the Wanderers, Johannesburg, earlier this year.

Kohli made a 50 and 41 in almost unplayable conditions to lead India to a memorable win and said the current India side will never be overawed by a fast pitch again after weathering that storm.

“I’ve played all around the world for 10 years now and I’ve not played on a wicket like Johannesburg until now,” he said.

“I played in Perth in 2011-12 and that was not even close to what Johannesburg was.

Hanuma Vihari will replace Sharma in the middle order. Picture: AFP

“We’re not alien to pitches like these. It’s nothing new for us. We know what to expect.”

Kohli insisted that he hadn’t felt the need to say anything to Ishant Sharma despite revelations the Indian spearhead had bowled at least 16 uncalled front-foot no balls in the first Test.

“He himself was very keen to rectify it,” said Kohli.

“I don’t think it was something that needed to be spoken about again and again.

“He’s a responsible cricketer. He’s been around a long time and he understands what needs to be corrected. He knows the problem and he’s keen to rectify it in this game.”

Australia confirmed: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India’s likely team: Lokesh Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

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Originally published as Virat Kohli’s bloodthirsty response to India’s injury blows