McGrath Urges Australia to Target Emotional Virat Kohli in Border-Gavaskar Series
Legendary Australian fast-bowler Glenn McGrath has advised Pat Cummins and his Australian side to put pressure on Virat Kohli during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, starting on November 22 in Perth. McGrath, who took 563 Test wickets in his career, believes that Kohli, who has struggled with form in 2023, could be vulnerable under pressure.
Kohli’s average of just 22.72 in Test matches this year is well below his usual standard, particularly in Australia where he averages 54.08. With India set to face Australia in a high-stakes series, McGrath suggested that if Kohli is provoked, especially in the emotional atmosphere of the series, he could be forced into making mistakes.
“If they go hard at him, if he gets in the fight with emotions, there’s a bit of chat out there, who knows he might sort of lift. But I think he’s probably under pressure a little bit, and if he has a couple of low scores to start with, he could really feel it,” McGrath commented. “I think he’s quite an emotional player. When he’s up, he’s up, and when he’s down, he sort of struggles a little bit,” he added.
India’s challenges are compounded by the absence of Shubman Gill for the first Test due to a fractured thumb, placing additional pressure on Kohli to deliver for his team on the challenging Perth pitch.
McGrath also emphasized the need for Australia to bring aggression into their game if they want to prevent India from securing a historic third consecutive Test series win in Australia. “Without a doubt, especially after coming off a 3-0 loss against New Zealand, you’ve got plenty of ammunition to back yourself up. So put the pressure on them and see if they’re up for it,” McGrath said, adding that a hard-nosed, aggressive approach would be key for Australia’s success in the series.
The series kicks off in Perth with the first Test, followed by matches in Adelaide (pink-ball), Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. This will mark the first five-match Test series between the two sides since the 1991/92 season.
