Matches Virat Kohli Should Play (and Leave) Before World Cup 2019 - By Tournament

India's Tour of Australia - 3 T20I's, 4 Tests, 3 ODI's

The Australia tour will be a battle of wits, something Kohli relishes.

If you thought that the England tour was tough, the Australia tour will be one notch up. Yes, they are without some of their best players. But playing against any Australian team at their home is a different experience altogether - something Virat can vouch for.

Intimidation is a part of their cricketing culture, and don't be surprised to witness sledging and a few broken bones.

Mitchell Starc would easily fill up for Mitchell Johnson, whose tiff with Kohli carried from the Test series right through to the World Cup 2015. Ideally, Rohit Sharma or someone else can lead the T20I squad and play those matches as well.

Matches that Virat Kohli should play: An ideal situation would be to have Virat lead India in the Test and the ODI series. The Test series is quite important - as India have never won a Test series in Australia - and Virat would hope to change this record.

The ODI series would be played in Australia - where the conditions are fast and conducive to swing bowling - despite the summer season.

India would have to face similar conditions in the World Cup and would love to face a challenging opposition in conditions that aren't tropical. India have not won a bilateral ODI series in Australia either, and Virat would love to set this record straight as well. Virat can very well skip the T20I series in Australia.