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Former India captain Rahul Dravid feels that it won't be fair to judge Virat Kohli on the basis of one Test match that he will be leading India against Australia in Brisbane as Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be back in the saddle by the time second Test begins.
"Dhoni's absence gives Virat the opportunity to show that he leads maybe differently," Dravid told ESPNCricinfo.
"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."
Having observed Kohli closely over his career Dravid believes he is the "obvious candidate" to take over the job from Dhoni in the long run but it will "depend on his batting."
According to Dravid, "I think he's (Kohli) got a good cricket brain. From what we've seen a little bit in the IPL (Indian Premier League) 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."
India will play four Test matches in Australia, with the first game starting in Brisbane on December 4.