England have a kitbag-load of worries ahead of the third Test against India in Mohali in the small hours of Saturday morning.
They are 1-0 down in the series and must somehow fathom a way back in. They have grave concerns about the technique of Ben Duckett. Stuart Broad and Zafar Ansari are both carrying injuries. And, of course, the fear that stalks them in their dreams and in their waking hours – spinners.
Then there’s Virat Kohli. The Indian batsman is a God at home and so far he has batted like one. In two Tests he looks as though he has finally become the complete player, transferring his effortless brilliance in the shorter forms to the longest.
Kohli has 337 runs in the two games. He has looked on a different planet to everyone else. He took the game away from England just after the first hour in the second Test, striking a majestic 167 when India were under the pump at 22 for two.
In the second his 81 from 109 balls ensured there could be no late, great comeback by the English.
So no wonder England are fretting about how to get him out. Here’s England pacer Chris Woakes: “His first 30 balls will be crucial. Because once he gets in, it\’s hard to get him out.”
That’s telling. Kohli is so good, then, that England will have the frighteners on, pretty much, if they have not got him out immediately. Think of the power Kohli will have if he’s 30 or 40 not out.
There is likely to be any army wanting to bet on Kohli here. The most popular bet will be for him to finish as India’s top runscorer in the first innings. He is top-priced at 3.5 with William Hill.
That’s mighty short. But consider that he is 2.1 to score a 50 in the first innings and there is clear value. We don’t have to worry about what anyone else does, if he is outscored or if he gets 150 and someone gets 200 (oh, the bitterness). Just back him to do a basic, easy job in this touch.
The same firm have him at 4.5 for another century. Stan James have him at 5 to be the top run scorer in the match from either team.
Statistically, Kohli has had reasonable gaps between his tons, aside from the rich vein he hit in Australia in 2014 when four came in the space of four matches. He could be in a similar mood.
If you want to try to be really clever and get maximum profits from Kohli, you could back him at 8 with Ladbrokes to be the man of the match. Ravi Ashwin, the spin threat, is 6 jolly among Green Listed Bookmakers Sybet, Stan James, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Betway.
Kohli picked up the gong last time out and India’s obsession with him – not to mention the sport’s habit of valuing runs over wickets and batsmen over bowlers – make this seem a fair call.
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