Virat Kohli will start from zero against Australia: Hayden dismisses form concerns
Former Australia skipper Matthew Hayden expressed confidence that India’s star batter Virat Kohli will be at his best during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia. Hayden brushed aside concerns over Kohli’s recent struggles, emphasizing his proven ability to thrive in high-pressure, marquee series like these.
As India gears up for the series opener in Perth starting November 22, the absence of skipper Rohit Sharma has added to the pressure on Kohli to deliver. Speaking at a virtual media interaction hosted by Cricket Australia, Hayden praised Kohli’s temperament and highlighted his experience and success on Australian soil as key factors in the series. Hayden noted that Kohli’s performance will be vital to India’s campaign, especially as they aim for a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.
“Naturally, there’s got to be that hunger which Virat always brings to any kind of contest and there’s none bigger throughout the course of Test match cricket history. He’s on a side that’s dominated Australia in their own backyard now for almost a decade and that’s an important factor in a place where he’s worked really hard. A lot of his influence on the game can be seen not just with bat in hand but also the belief in the contest, the belief in his own fitness levels,” Hayden said.
“So there is lots for Virat to play for… Unfortunately, he can’t carry his immense performances from any season into this one because it’s a different one. It’s a new one. Now he starts with his average of zero and an aggregate of zero. We all know that he’s capable of averaging beyond 50, and he’s the most unsound for his country in the past, second beyond Sachin Tendalkar, but gee, it’s up to him…I wish him all the best because in Australia, we want to see Virat Kohli against arguably the best attack that Australian cricket has had in the history of the game,” Hayden added.
Kohli’s Recent Test Struggles
India heads into the series on the back of a disappointing 3-0 home Test series whitewash against New Zealand. Kohli, too, has struggled to find his rhythm, managing just 93 runs in the series, 70 of which came in a single innings. The ongoing year has been particularly challenging for the 36-year-old, with only 250 runs in six Tests at an average of 22.72, including a solitary half-century.
Stellar Record in Australia
Despite his recent slump, Kohli’s remarkable record in Australia offers a glimmer of hope for fans and teammates alike. With an impressive average of 54.08 in the country, Kohli has amassed 1,352 runs from 13 Tests, including five centuries. His performances have consistently demonstrated his ability to adapt to Australian conditions and dominate the opposition.
Hayden believes that Kohli’s determination and experience will enable him to rise to the occasion. The former Australian opener also remarked that such iconic players thrive under pressure and that Kohli’s contributions could be decisive in the BGT, especially with India’s batting order needing a leader in Rohit Sharma’s absence from the first Test after having recently welcomed his second child.
As India prepares for the series, all eyes will be on Kohli to lead from the front and silence critics with a memorable performance against a formidable Australian side.
