5 reasons why Virat Kohli's injury might be a blessing in disguise for India

Virat Kohli is unarguably the best player in white ball cricket. With him suffering a neck injury, the team management will have a lot to ponder upon if he is ruled out of the England series. In the past couple of years, India have had a lot of problems with their middle order; Dhoni's waning finishing abilities have not helped them either. In such a situation it has been India's top order led by Virat who have won most of the games for them.

Although his injury will deplete the side, with the rise of Dinesh Karthik as a finisher, Dhoni's recent form and the class of KL Rahul, India have a lot to look forward to.

Virat's absence can even prove to be a boon for India in the following ways:

#1 Bench Strength gets tested

For the middle order, the selectors had picked 4 players who would have fought for 2 slots - Ambati Rayudu, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul. Dinesh Karthik's place at No.6 is all but a surety with his excellent form and that spectacular knock he played in the Nidahas Trophy final.

If Virat is fit in time for the England series, then India would only be able to give one other player a go. With it being a 3-match series, the management would also have to back the player for all the matches even if he fails in the first two. Virat's absence would allow India to try two players in the middle order and then the performances of both can be compared. In the future, the player who performs better can be backed.

#2 Responsibility on players

South Africa v India - 5th Momentum ODI

It's a known fact that the Indian batting is constructed around Virat Kohli. In the last 3.5 years, his consistency has been such that he has averaged 99.8 whenever the team have won and less than 40 whenever they have lost. With the middle order being fragile, it has been he who has made India's batting look great.

If he misses out on the trip to England, then it would be a great chance for youngsters to step up and the responsibility on each player's shoulder would increase. In International Cricket, a player can only succeed if he can absorb pressure. It is a stage which tests not only their skills but also their temperament.

Karthik has shown how good he can be under pressure and this might help Dhoni who can bat up the order in Virat's absence while the others bat around him. With Dhoni being as fit as he is, he can even bat for 40 overs and still run quickly between the wickets.

#3 Rohit the captain complements Rohit the batsman

India v Bangladesh - Twenty 20 cricket match

Rohit had a lean run in the IPL this season with an average of 23, scoring a mere 286 runs, but then he has never been an IPL great. He has made more than 500 runs only in one season thus far. His record as captain while opening the innings is better, with an average of 40. He has even won 3 IPL trophies for Mumbai Indians as captain while his predecessors were not able to get their hands on a single one of those.

Rohit averages 54 while opening for India and while captaining India in ODIs his average is a whopping 109.

If Virat missed this tour, Rohit Sharma can be expected to not only lead the side well but also dominate the bowlers with the bat.

#4 Preparation for the World Cup

South Africa v India - 5th Momentum ODI

In any sport, no player's participation can be taken for granted. In cricket, one wrong dive in the field and the person is out of action for 3 months. Though Virat Kohli is the fittest cricketer around, India can't afford to be entirely dependent on him in the World Cup that is just a year away.

His absence would allow fringe players a chance to perform and prove themselves on the big stage. Also, with England being one of the favorites for the World Cup, great performances against them in their home conditions would help the players grow in stature.

If India can win this series with healthy contributions from their middle order batsmen, then India can easily be considered strong contenders to lift the World Cup.

#5 Virat Kohli gets a break

Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli rests during Training

When it was rumored that Kohli had suffered a slip disc, the majority of the fans were concerned because back issues are problematic. Serious back injuries can even imply nine months out of action. Such injuries are often seen in people who have a high workload and Kohli is one of them.

However, when the reports of a neck injury started to emerge, it came as a relief.

Kohli's form is going to be vital for India not only in the England Test series but also in future tours. If he misses the limited overs matches, we can expect him to return as a hungrier and fresher player. Although missing the stint with Surrey does have its cons, Kohli might perform better after a break.