November 18, 2024: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has thrown his full support behind Virat Kohli, backing the star batsman to make a strong impact in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, despite a recent lean patch with the bat.
Kohli, who has faced criticism for his struggles in Test cricket since 2020, has had a challenging time in the longest format. In the past four years, Kohli has scored 1,838 runs in 34 Tests, averaging 31.68 with just two centuries and nine fifties. His form has been a topic of much debate, particularly as expectations continue to rise for him to deliver, especially in the high-profile series against Australia.
Despite these concerns, Ganguly remains confident that Kohli’s past success in Australia will play a pivotal role in his revival. Reflecting on Kohli’s historical performances Down Under, Ganguly pointed out that Virat has always been a force to reckon with on Australian pitches, notably scoring four centuries in 2014 and a century in 2018.
“Virat is a champion batter,” Ganguly said in an interview with Boria Majumdar on Revsportz. “He has had success in Australia in the past, and he will want to make this series count. He will also know that this could be the last time he is touring Australia to play Test cricket, so the motivation will be high.”
Ganguly’s comments come amid growing concerns over Kohli’s form. Despite his earlier struggles, particularly during a dismal 2011 tour of the West Indies, Kohli has often used adversity as fuel for comebacks. His breakthrough century in Adelaide in 2012, following a difficult start to his career, was a key moment in his development. Similarly, in 2014, he rose to the occasion in Australia, silencing critics with a series of powerful performances.
Reflecting on Kohli’s history with Australian conditions, Ganguly said: “In every sense, this is a massive series for Kohli. I don’t want to read too much into the New Zealand series. The pitches there didn’t allow for good batting, but in Australia, he will enjoy the conditions. There will be good pitches, and I’m backing Virat to deliver.”
There have been concerns surrounding Kohli’s fitness ahead of the series, especially after reports emerged of him undergoing scans. However, in the intra-squad match simulation last week, Kohli appeared to be in good shape, playing a typically elegant cover drive and continuing his preparations despite being dismissed early in the innings. His resilience was further showcased as he spent considerable time in the nets, facing challenging deliveries, including a barrage of short balls from Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Reddy.
With the first Test set to begin in Perth, Kohli’s form will be crucial for India as they look to assert themselves in what promises to be a highly competitive and challenging series. For many, this could be a defining moment in Kohli’s Test career, and Ganguly is firm in his belief that the former captain will rise to the occasion.
“Virat has always been someone who delivers when the stakes are high, and I expect him to do the same in Australia,” Ganguly concluded.
