Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Virat Kohli will be expected to play a leading role against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but the India batting star will be eager to better his home record against the tourists from down under.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 8, 2023 15:33 IST
Border-Gavaskar Trophy always an exciting series to be part of: Kohli. Courtesy: PTI
By India Today Web Desk: Virat Kohli will be a key to India’s hopes of winning their fourth successive Test series against Australia given his impressive record against them in the five-day format. On Wednesday, Kohli said he was excited and looking forward to the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting Thursday.
Virat Kohli has so far scored 1682 runs in 20 Tests against Australia at an average of 48.05, including 7 hundreds and 5 half-centuries. However, Kohli’s record against the Australians in India has been far from impressive, with only 1 hundred in 7 Tests.
Virat Kohli last scored a Test hundred in November 2019 against Bangladesh. Going through a lean patch of form, Kohli broke his hundred drought with a century against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup before scoring three ODI hundreds against Bangladesh and in the home series against Sri Lanka.
The Indian team reached Nagpur last week and Virat Kohli was quick to hit the gym in preparation for the Test series. Kohli has struggled against spin in recent years but he would be eager to get the better of Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon and his colleagues on a pitch which is expected to aid spin very early in the match.
On Wednesday, Virat Kohli posted pictures on social media to say he was excited about the latest edition of the BGT.
Virat Kohli led India to series wins in 2016-17 in India and 2018-19 in Australia. On the tour of 2020-21, Kohli returned home after the first Test in Adelaide for the birth of his daughter. However, the Indian team fought back heroically from a heavy defeat in the opening Test to win in Melbourne and Brisbane to secure back-to-back series triumphs in Australia.
Virat Kohli also shares an interesting relationship with the Australian cricket team. On the tour of 2014-15, Kohli was in majestic form with 4 hundreds in as many Tests, but there were bitter words exchanged between him and the Australian players in a heated series of matches.
In 2017, Virat Kohli was left fuming when Steve Smith sought dressing-room help with a DRS referral and later minced no words in the post-match press conference.
Virat Kohli is the most successful Test captain for India but he stepped down as skipper following the 1-2 series defeat in South Africa after India had taken a 1-0 lead.
After relinquishing Test captaincy, Virat Kohli has so far played 5 Tests and with a best of 45 against Sri Lanka in Mohali.
