Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has warned Australia about the potential threat posed by Virat Kohli in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Hesson believes Kohli’s focus on team victories over individual milestones could significantly impact Australia’s World Test Championship aspirations. His emphasis on winning could make him a key player to watch during the series.
According to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s official website, Mike Hesson remarked in an interview with Jio Cinema that Virat Kohli is currently at a crucial point in his career, prioritizing team victories over personal stats. Hesson warned that this focus could be detrimental to opposing teams, as it may lead to Kohli achieving significant scores naturally while aiming to win games for India.
Virat Kohli : Player to watch out in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024
Virat Kohli will play a pivotal role for India in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, especially given his track record of match-winning performances in Australia. Mike Hesson underscored Kohli’s capacity to rise to the occasion and deliver significant contributions on Australian pitches. His experience and skill make him an invaluable asset for the Indian team in this challenging series.
Hesson Said “The ability to hold a tempo in Australia is so important—being able to counterattack and knowing the right moments to do so. As mentioned, from 30 to 60 overs is a key phase. If Kohli is batting at that point, he won’t let the game drift. It’s about finding gaps, hitting gaps, getting ones and twos, and then, if they try and attack him, then he can counterattack.”
“He has the game and knows the conditions very well. The discussions he’ll have with younger players will also be crucial in helping them apply their game to challenge the Australians in the best way possible” he further addded.
Virat Kohli’s against Aussies
Virat Kohli has played 13 Test matches in Australia, scoring 1,352 runs with an average of 54.08. One of his best performances came in 2014 when he scored 169 runs. However, in his recent Test return under Gautam Gambhir, he struggled with scores of six and 17 against Bangladesh, followed by 47 and an unbeaten 29 in the Kanpur Test.
