Virat Kohli finds himself navigating another challenging phase in his career, with his last Test century dating back to India’s 2023 tour of the West Indies. His recent form in the Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand was especially troubling, with only 93 runs across six innings against the Kiwis. The downturn has sparked concerns about Kohli’s ability to counter spin, a struggle shared by many Indian batters recently.
Both finger spinners and wrist spinners have managed to expose gaps in his defensive game, underscoring an unexpected vulnerability in Kohli’s approach. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaching, Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne shared his reflections on Kohli’s aura from the memorable 2018 series.
Marnus Labuschagne recalls his first impression of an “intense” and fiercely competitive Kohli, particularly when he captained the team through an emotionally charged series.
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“My first memory of Virat was probably from the 2018 series. He was captain, and he was quite intense. Watching that series, it was very intense. I probably haven’t seen that same Virat since then. For a long time, he’s been a quality act, but that’s my first memory,” Marnus Labuschagne shared in an interview with Star Sports.
India’s upcoming series against Australia holds immense significance, especially after suffering an unexpected home series loss to New Zealand. India has retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the 2016-17 season, winning even on Australian soil in the last two encounters. This time, a win is more than a matter of pride—it’s critical to their World Test Championship (WTC) campaign.
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Currently second on the WTC points table, India needs to secure at least four wins out of the five Tests to solidify their spot in the finals. Meanwhile, Australia, sitting atop the WTC table, are determined to protect their lead and challenge India’s dominance in the Border-Gavaskar series.
