NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli had torrid outings in the home Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand but legendary Sunil Gavaskar feels that the star India batter will make up for it in the upcoming Test series in Australia.
India are set to play five Tests Down Under with the first game starting from November 22 in Perth.
Kohli’s form has been a concern as he has averaged a mere 22.72 in six Test matches this year. In the recently concluded series against the Kiwis, which the visitors won 3-0, Kohli managed only 91 runs across six innings.
However Kohli averages a staggering 54.08 in Australia and Gavaskar feels that the batting virtuoso will be eyeing big runs against the top Australian side.
“Because he hasn’t got runs against New Zealand, he’ll be very, very hungry. Even in that Adelaide Test match, where in the second innings we got all out for 36, in the first innings, Kohli got 70 plus, if I recall correctly, before being run out. He’s consistently performed at Adelaide, so it’s a familiar ground for him.
“And before Adelaide, it’s Perth, where he played one of the finest Test centuries in 2018-19. A terrific hundred. Having performed on these grounds, he’ll feel that extra bit of confidence. Of course, you need a bit of luck at the start, but if he gets off to a good start, he will get big runs,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports.
Former India batsman also Sanjay Manjrekar offered his insights into how the Australian bowling attack, spearheaded by captain Pat Cummins and featuring Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, might approach Kohli.
Manjrekar believes they will target the area outside the off stump, particularly in the early stages of the series.
“I think Virat knows exactly what’s going to be planned. They’ll start with that line outside the off stump and gauge what his mindset is. These days, he often leaves balls outside off and looks to drive anything pitched up. Australia might also try to cramp him for room and attack his body since he likes to get forward,” said Manjrekar.
“This was a tactic New Zealand used effectively. If he’s focused on balls outside off stump, bowlers like Josh Hazlewood might target that typical Vernon Philander line on middle stump. Australia will test various strategies, and Virat Kohli is fully aware of that,” he said.
