Former wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta is hoping that Virat Kohli will tap into his aggressive and combative side during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Kohli hasn’t had the best of times in Test cricket this year as he has struggled for runs in the 6 matches that he has played. During this time, the star batter scored just 250 runs at an average just above 22.
Despite this slump in form, the Australia players and critics are vary of the threat posed by Kohli down under. Speaking to Indiatoday.in in an exclusive chat, Dasgupta said we see the best in the star batter when he is in an aggressive frame of mind and, included him along with athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Jordan who have thrived under pressure.
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“I just hope so. Because, as I said, we’ve seen the best of him when he’s in that mind space—wanting to prove everyone wrong, fired up, combative.”
“Great players love that kind of energy. Look at Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods, or Michael Jordan—athletes from different sports. They thrived on proving people wrong every time they stepped onto the field. I hope Virat finds that same zone because it’s all about finding the right mindset,” said Dasgupta.
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Won’t be surprised if Kohli turns it on in Australia
Speaking about Kohli’s form, Dasgupta said that while he hasn’t been at his best in recent times, a great player like him can turn it up when needed. The former wicketkeeper feels that Kohli enjoys playing in Australia and wouldn’t be surprised if the star batter returns to form during the series.
“I think, obviously, the last series—or maybe the last couple of series—wasn’t great by his lofty standards. He’s set such high standards for himself that anything below those can seem disappointing. Especially the New Zealand and Bangladesh series, I think he would have been disappointed with how they went. But listen, there’s a reason these players are called great. They can turn it on when they want to.”
“He enjoys playing in Australia and against Australia. The pitches suit him, and he thrives in the energy and the combative environment Australia provides. We’ve seen the best of Virat Kohli in those conditions—fired up and combative. That kind of mindset brings out his best performances.”
“So I won’t be surprised if he turns it on this time. It’s a very crucial stage for him—not just from a personal perspective but also from the team’s and fans’ perspectives. And great players like him know how to rise to the occasion,” said Dasgupta.
Kohli has scored 1352 runs in 13 matches in Australia with 6 hundreds and 4 fifties to go with it.
