India great Ravi Shastri has declared Virat Kohli “is back in his territory” and ready to prove his critics wrong by reigning supreme against Australia.
For so long the king of Indian cricket, Kohli will enter the Border-Gavaskar Trophy under the spotlight after averaging only 22.72 across six Tests this year.
Kohli’s form has also dominated pre-series jousting, with India coach Gautam Gambhir taking exception to Ricky Ponting highlighting the megastar’s lack of big scores.
The 36-year-old has scored only two Test centuries in his past 60 Test innings, averaging 31.69 in that time.
But one of those tons did come against Australia last year, while Kohli’s average of 54.08 in Australia (1,352 runs from 25 Test innings) is the fifth highest of any touring player in history with 25 or more innings here.
“Well, the king is back in his territory,” Shastri said on the ICC Review show.
“That’s all I will tell [the doubters].
“When you’ve earned that title after your exploits in Australia, it will be on your minds when he goes out to bat.”
Kohli is set to potentially take an even more important role in India’s top order come the first Test in Perth next Friday, with Rohit Sharma still at home for personal reasons.
India trained again at the WACA on Friday, and while media were told they could attend, no TV cameras or recordings were permitted within the venue.
Kohli spent some time in the middle during an extended centre-wicket session, before being caught in the slips and moving to the nets.
He was later reportedly sent for scans on an as-yet unknown ailment.
There was also some concern for India’s potential first-Test opener KL Rahul, who was struck on the elbow and taken from the field.
Shastri coached India to their maiden two successes in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21, before stepping down from the role.
He said the key for Kohli this summer was not letting emotion take over.
“Your juices are flowing, you’re charged up. It’s again a case with Virat. You want to see calmness,” he said.
“At times you are over-eager to get out there and throw the first punch. But I think that calmness in the first half an hour where he gets out to bat, or in the first three innings of the series, will be extremely important.
“If he can be calm and play the game at his own pace rather than being in a hurry, I think he’ll be fine.”
Shastri’s comments came after Ponting also backed Kohli to return to form in Australia, after being critical of his lead-in performances.
The former Test captain made 0, 70, 1, 17, 4 and 1 in India’s first ever whitewash defeat in a three-match home series over the past month, which was also their first series loss to New Zealand at home.
“[His record] doesn’t seem right to me. That’s a concern,” Ponting said.
“There wouldn’t be anyone else playing international cricket as a top-order batsman who has only scored two Test match hundreds in five years.
“But you don’t ever question the greats of the game, and there is no doubt he is a great of the game.
“I know he loves playing against Australia and his record here is very good. If there is a time for him to turn it around it would be this series.”
AAP
