New Delhi: Virat Kohli might be in the midst of a slump in form but would back himself to score heavily in Australia where he has scored a lot of runs in the past, opines former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar.
Kohli will lead India’s batting line-up in their five-match Test series that begins in Perth on November 22. But he has been off-colour in recent times, scoring only a half century in his last 10 Test innings, all on home soil.
In his last six Tests, Kohli averages 22.72 and has scored only two centuries and 11 half centuries in his last 60 Test innings. In his three games against New Zealand in India’s last Test series, he scored only 93 runs.
But in Australia’s bouncy pitches, the right-hander has hit six centuries in 13 Tests, averaging 54.08 in fours tours.
“Because he hasn’t scored runs against New Zealand, he’ll be very, very hungry,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
“Even in that Adelaide Test, where India was bowled out for 36 in the second innings, Kohli scored 70-plus runs in the first innings before being run out.”
“He has consistently performed in Adelaide, a ground he knows well. Before Adelaide, it’s Perth, where Kohli played one of his finest Test centuries in the 2018-19 series — a terrific hundred.
“Having performed on these grounds, he’ll feel an extra bit of confidence. Of course, you need a bit of luck at the start, but if he gets off to a good beginning, he will score big runs,” the former opener added.
‘Australia may follow New Zealand’s tactic against Kohli’
Another former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar anticipates Australia to use the same tactic that new Zealand benefitted from against Kohli.
“I think Virat knows exactly what’s coming. They’ll start with a line outside the off stump to assess his mindset,” Manjrekar said.
“These days, he often leaves balls outside off and looks to drive anything pitched up. Australia may try to cramp him for room and attack his body, especially since he likes to get forward. New Zealand used this tactic effectively.
“If he’s focused on balls outside off stump, bowlers like Josh Hazlewood could target the middle-stump line, much like Vernon Philander used to do. Australia will experiment with different strategies, and Virat Kohli is well aware of that.”
Virat Kohli has been off-colour in recent times, scoring only a half century in his last 10 Test innings, all on home soil. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
