King Virat Kohli back in his territory in Australia: Ravi Shastri warns doubters ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Former India coach Ravi Shastri urged Virat Kohli’s detractors to write the star batter off at their own peril in the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli has struggled for form in Tests in the recent past, but Shastri said the former captain will return to his best in his favourite hunting ground – Australia.

Questions have been raised about Virat Kohli’s place in the side after a run of disastrous outings with the bat in India’s 0-3 defeat to New Zealand in October-November. Kohli managed just 93 runs in three Tests, getting out to New Zealand spinners while playing shoddy shots. Kohli has played six Tests in 2024, managing 250 runs, including just a fifty, at an average of 22.72.

“Well, the King is back in his territory. That’s all I will tell them,” Shastri told the latest episode of The ICC Review, referring to the popularity and success that Kohli has enjoyed in Australia.

Also Read: Virat Kohli in Australia – A timeline

Only recently, a group of Australian newspapers used Virat Kohli in the front page of a special feature on Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Television channels have been using Kohli’s exploits in Australia for promotional videos in the lead-up to the highly-anticipated five-Test series, starting November 22 in Perth.

“When you’ve earned that title after your exploits in Australia, it will be on your (opponent’s) mind when you go out to bat,” Shastri added.

Virat Kohli averages over 50 runs per innings in Australia. The former captain, who missed three of the four Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2020-21, has 1352 runs, including six hundreds, in 13 matches.

SHASTRI’S KEY ADVICE FOR VIRAT KOHLI

However, Shastri had a piece of advice for Virat Kohli, adding that he looked rushed in the three-Test series against New Zealand. Kohli looked uncharacteristically fidgety in the middle, getting out to a full-toss and getting run-out in a crunch situation.

Shastri urged Kohli to be calm early on in his innings before getting the juices flowing.

“Your juices are flowing, you’re charged up. It’s again a case with Virat. You want to see calmness because at times you are overeager to get out there and throw the first punch,” Shastri said.

Kohli has fond memories of playing in Australia. He scored a hundred in Adelaide in his first-ever tour Down Under in 2012. In 2014, Kohli produced one of the most magical shows by a visiting batter in Australia, scoring four hundreds in four Tests, including twin hundreds in Adelaide.

Kohli led India to their first-ever Test series victory in Australia in 2018-19. In the historic tour, Kohli scored a sensational 123 in Perth, which will host the first of the upcoming five-Test series from November 22.

“But I think that calmness in the first half an hour where he gets out to bat or in the first three innings of the series will be extremely important. If he can be calm and play the game at his own pace rather than being in a hurry, I think he’ll be fine.”

Virat Kohli has fond memories of playing in Australia. The former captain hit a hundred in Adelaide in his first-ever Test tour of Australia in 2011-12. He produced one of the most memorable batting efforts by an overseas batter in Australia in the 2014-15 series, hitting four hundreds in as many Tests. In 2018, Kohli led India to their first-ever series win in Australia in Tests. He scored a stunning 123 in Perth during the series.

Perth’s Optus Stadium will host the series opener between Australia and India from November 22.