Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra reckons the hype surrounding Virat Kohli ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is because of his stunning Test performances in Australia. He again added that Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, hasn’t been as dominant in Tests on Australian soil as well. Notably, India will take on Australia in a five-Test series, with the first game starting in Perth on November 22.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “Why is it for Virat Kohli? Test is the format if you want to earn respect in Australia and England. No matter how well you do in white-ball cricket, you won’t get that much respect. However, they remember you if you have dominated them with the bat or jolted them with the ball (in Tests). You will be written beautifully in the annals of history.”
“Virat Kohli is not demanding, he is commanding this respect. If you see the white-ball format, Rohit Sharma is an absolute GOAT when it comes to playing against Australia. However, Rohit has never played an entire Test series in Australia. He might not play the entire series this time as well. Rohit Sharma has not yet earned that status,” Chopra further added.
ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya shares happiness after winning back the love of fans
In the same video, Aakash Chopra also ruled out the possibility of the Virat Kohli hype being a public relations exercise as well.
“Is it any PR machinery that is in overdrive? Absolutely not. We were told from our childhood that Australia will be in your face. You don’t play with the XI but the entire nation. They are at you relentlessly. However, if you go there and conquer those grounds and this team, if you decimate or dominate them, they become your fans,” he said.
ALSO READ: “Shubman’s captaincy is very good” – Ravi Bishnoi on Shubman Gill
“They will be the first ones to stand up and greet you with applause. They will actually bow to you. We have seen this with Sachin Tendulkar. To earn respect in Australia and England, you have to go there and score runs or pick up wickets in Test matches. The moment you do that, you will be celebrated, but till that time you won’t get that kind of respect,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
