November 15, 2024: Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has shared his insights on how Australia will likely approach Virat Kohli during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is set to begin on November 22 in Perth. Manjrekar predicted that the Australian bowlers will start by attacking Kohli with deliveries outside the off-stump, testing his patience and gauging his mood at the crease.
Kohli, one of the most dominant batters in world cricket, has faced Australia in 25 Test matches and has scored 2042 runs, including a high score of 186, at a strike rate of 52.41. His impressive record against the Aussies makes him a key player to watch in the series. Manjrekar pointed out that Kohli is well aware of the strategies that the Australian bowlers are likely to deploy against him.
“Virat knows exactly what’s going to be planned. They’ll obviously start with that line outside the off-stump and gauge what his mood is. Generally these days, he looks to leave balls outside the off-stump and if they have anything that’s pitched right up, he’ll look to drive,” Manjrekar said during a conversation with Star Sports.
In addition to the usual off-stump line, Manjrekar also expects the Australians to target Kohli’s body, knowing that he likes to get forward when batting. “They are also trying to cramp him for room and attack his body because he loves to get forward so much. So that is something New Zealand tried, which is very smart,” Manjrekar explained. He added that the Australian bowlers will also look to land the ball on middle stump, an area where Josh Hazlewood could be especially effective.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be an exciting and closely contested series, with Kohli’s battle against Australia’s bowling attack set to be one of its major highlights. The first Test will take place in Perth from November 22, followed by the second Test in Adelaide from December 6 to 10, which will be played in the day-night format. The action will then shift to Brisbane’s Gabba for the third Test, scheduled for December 14-18.
The series will also feature the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30, and the final Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, promising a dramatic conclusion to what is expected to be a thrilling contest between two of the top cricketing nations.
