Former India captain Virat Kohli is as much known for his aggression as for his batting prowess. Unlike some other players who get intimidated, Kohli thrives on such energy and seems to relish opposition’s negativity targeting him. Ever since his first Test tour Down Under in 2011-12, he has matched Australian sledging and mind games in a similar vein.
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2014-15, hosts Australia had a taste of their own medicine as they invited Kohli’s wrath while feeding him insults, jibes and sledges. In that series, a riled up Kohli made the most of the aggressive fodder and amassed 692 runs in four matches at a sensational average of 86.50, notching four centuries and one half-century and finishing as the second highest run scorer in the series. The hosts were a bit late in realising that aggression gets the Indian star going. By the time they mended ways , the damage was already done.
With Kohli struggling for form heading into the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, one question that’s being raised is whether hosts Australia would dare try getting under his skin?, Will the Pat Cummins-led side try to corner their old nemesis?
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Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has answered the million dollar question. Weighing in on the matter in a recent interaction with RevSportz, Clarke said “I seriously don’t think the Australians will be as silly to do this. That’s exactly what Virat wants. He wants them to get into a fight with him. He will use it to get into the action. You shouldn’t give him that opportunity, and I am sure the Australians know it. He is much loved out here for all that he has done and achieved, and I am waiting to see him bat here. As I said, if India is to do well and win, Virat Kohli will have to score the maximum number of runs for the team.”
Notably, several cricket experts have been bold to predict that the upcoming Test series might be the last tour to Australia for Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin. In that sense, the series holds a personal importance for these four stars as they would like to sign off in Australia on a high.
Quite visibly, several speculations and predictions around the series have been the perfect cocktail of excitement and the culmination of it will be seen as the first Test gets underway at Perth on November 22, Friday.
