Sydney: More than the upcoming limited overs series between India and Australia discussions on Virat Kohli’s paternity leave have become a major issue. Cricketers, both formers and present, historians and fans are all talking about Virat Kohli’s decision to return to India after the first Test. The Indian captain will fly back home after the Adelaide game to be with his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child. Australia opener David Warner is the latest to voice his opinion on the matter.
Like most others Warner too commended Kohli for choosing to stay by his wife’s side. “Well done to him to go home and be by his partner’s side for his first child,” Warner said in a virtual press conference Tuesday.
Warner also had words of praise for India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and said he brings in a calm and measured approach. Warner made the comment when asked whether the Test contest would take a different look with Rahane at the helm. “He’s calm and very measured in his approach. He’s got a very good cricket brain,” Warner said.
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“…it’s like chalk and cheese with them two (Kolhi and Rahane) and as a player to try and engage him on the field, as we’re talking about engaging, and getting into that contest as players, it’s obviously lots to think about how to do that especially with Ajinkya as captain,” Warner added.
Warner also asserted that he will continue playing in his normal manner irrespective of the situation. “The brand of cricket I play is aggressive. There’s probably going to be no change to that,” he said.
“Here in Australia, it’s a bit different. In 50-over cricket, you can still play the normal way you do and I think I showed that last year. I played pretty much the same way as I did during the backend of that IPL. I won’t be changing my game and will go out and tackle it the way I always do,” added Warner, who has 5,303 ODI runs.