Mike Hesson believes that Virat Kohli is now at a critical juncture in his cricketing career, where his main focus has shifted from individual milestones to contributing significantly to India’s victories. Kohli, once known for his prolific scoring and record-breaking exploits, has encountered a challenging period in Test cricket. This year has seen him struggle to convert starts into significant scores, as he has yet to register a half-century in the format.

Since 2019, he has managed to hit only two centuries in Test matches, which starkly contrasts with the consistent performances of contemporaries like Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson. As India prepares to defend the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy during their upcoming tour of Australia, Hesson points out that Kohli’s mindset of prioritizing team success could pose a significant threat to opposing teams.

“I think Virat Kohli is at that stage in his career where he just wants to try and win games for India. And I think that’s a dangerous stage for other sides,” Mike Hesson explained. He emphasized that when Kohli shifts his focus away from personal numbers, it often leads to more significant contributions, with big scores coming naturally as a result.

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Hesson also highlighted the importance of Kohli’s ability to maintain tempo during crucial phases of the game, particularly in the Australian conditions. “The ability to hold a tempo in Australia is so important—being able to counterattack and knowing the right moments to do so,” he stated. He believes that if Kohli can assert himself during the pivotal 30 to 60 overs, he won’t let the game slip away.

Virat Kohli’s knack for finding gaps and rotating the strike while having the ability to counterattack when pressured is crucial to India’s strategy. Kohli’s recent absence from the five-match Test series against England was due to personal reasons. He made his return during India’s second Test against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this year, scoring 46 and 12 in his two innings.

Following that, he participated in the recent series against Bangladesh, where his form showed signs of improvement. In Chennai, he scored 6 and 17, but his performance in the second Test in Kanpur was better, where he managed to score 47 and remain not out at 29.

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With India set to play a three-match Test series at home against New Zealand, Kohli is eager to find his rhythm and build confidence ahead of the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which kicks off on November 22. Kohli aims to regain his form and contribute decisively to the team’s success, reinforcing his belief that cricket is ultimately a team sport.