Virat Kohli will thrive under the challenge of captaincy in Australia: Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid sees Virat Kohli as the obvious successor to MS Dhoni

Former India captain Rahul Dravid has said that Virat Kohli is the most obvious candidate to replace MS Dhoni as captain in the long run. Owing to Dhoni’s thumb injury, as a result of which he will miss the start of the upcoming Test series against Australia, Kohli has been appointed captain for the 1st Test in Brisbane starting on December 4.

"I think he's (Kohli) got a good cricket brain," Dravid told ESPNcricinfo.

"From what we've seen a little bit in the IPL and one-day cricket, he's willing to make things happen. He's spent quite a bit of time learning from Dhoni. He's been in the side for a while now. If he can bat well in Test matches and have that certainty about himself as a player, then I have no doubt that he's the obvious candidate to take over from Dhoni once he's finished."

Dravid added that although it would be unfair to judge Kohli’s captaincy nous in Test cricket on the basis of just 1 match, it is still a good opportunity for him to show that he is perhaps a different leader to Dhoni.

"Dhoni's absence gives Virat the opportunity to show that he leads maybe differently," the 41-year old said. "I still think it's going to be Dhoni's side, he has been announced captain. It's just a nice opportunity for Virat and a great feeling, every time you get the opportunity to lead your country in a Test match, it's a great thrill and Virat will really enjoy that."

While Kohli has recovered his run-scoring form in recent weeks, albeit in ODI cricket against West Indies and Sri Lanka, he did have a horrid run in England, scoring just 134 runs from 5 Tests at 13.4 and 54 runs from 4 ODIs at 18. Dravid believes that the challenge of captaincy will benefit Kohli rather than affect his personal form.

"Maybe it will take his mind away from thinking about his own batting, he will have other stuff to think about and it's only for one match," he said. "Rather than be consumed by his own thoughts and scoring runs he will have to think about other things which sometimes can be a pretty good thing. Hopefully, he's learnt his lessons. Having said that, Virat has scored a hundred in Australia as well so he's the most experienced of that young middle order."

"A chance for Raina to resurrect his Test career"

Talking about Suresh Raina’s selection in the Test squad after last playing the home Tests against New Zealand back in 2012, Dravid said: "I believe he has been picked to replace someone in the middle order if they go out of form or gets injured. The team likes Raina, he gives so much on the field, he's a brilliant slip fielder, it's an area India struggled in England, and he can give you a few overs of off-spin. It's a chance for him to resurrect his career, I am sure that he can play well in Test cricket where his record isn't as good."

Picking 19 players a luxury

When asked about his thoughts on the selectors picking no less than 19 members for the 4-Test series, Dravid opined that 16 would’ve been more than sufficient, especially with the Indian domestic season going on at the same time. "With the domestic season on in India, some of the players picked would be better off having played four-day cricket," he said. "If there were injuries you almost want people coming in having played cricket rather than cold, not having played matches for whatever length it might be. You might find cases that some of the guys have been on tour for a month and half and not having played a single game. Maybe the selectors felt they needed that back up, they were covering for a few injuries."