Virat Kohli Does Not Need Us, We Need Him, Says Bumrah As India Seal Perth Win

Stand-in Team India skipper throws weight behind star batter after crucial century in second innings

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

After Virat Kohli buried "concerns" about his batting slump with an unbeaten 100, his seventh on Australian soil, and 30th overall in Tests in the series opener in Perth, India's stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah said the batting talisman had never looked "out of form" despite having endured a run of low scores heading into the series.

Kohli, coming into this series on the back of averaging 15.50 over three home Tests against New Zealand, brought up his century in 143 balls to lift India's total to 487 for 6 declared, setting Australia a massive 534 target. In the lead-up to the Border-Gavaskar trophy, former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting had raised questions over the 36-year-old's place in the side, after the right-hander managed just two Test centuries in the past five years.