Rahul Dravid, the former head coach of India, predicted that senior batsman Virat Kohli would have a memorable series in Australia. Dravid stated on Star Sports that Kohli might wind up torturing Australia in the present Border Gavaskar Trophy because he has been batting well on challenging grounds abroad.
In the opening Test match against Perth, Australia, the Indian talisman struck a stoic century. After his early difficulties, Kohli was outstanding in the second half of the innings. Following Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar, Kohli became the fourth Indian batsman to reach 30 hundreds in Test cricket.
Dravid on Kohli
"He's been batting really well, even in South Africa a few months ago when we were there, I thought he was batting really well on a couple of difficult wickets. It's just nice for him to be able to get that hundred at the start of the series. I think he could have a big series," said Dravid on Star Sports.
Gavaskar on Kohli
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar had discussed the obvious change in Virat Kohli's batting strategy in Perth during the Test match.
"His body was completely relaxed when he came into bat in the second innings. In the first innings, he came out to bat when India had lost two early wickets, he might have been under pressure. In the second innings, I think he gave himself a little more time to play the ball and, apart from the wider stance, I think he allowed himself to play the bounce by being a little bit more upright,” Gavaskar told the broadcasters at the end of the Perth Test.
Kohli had a dismal performance against New Zealand at home prior to the Test series, amassing just 93 runs in three Test matches. In the first Test match at Perth, the batter adjusted his stance, practised, and attempted to control Australia right away. With Kohli's century and outstanding efforts from Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, India won by an overwhelming 295 runs at the Optus Stadium for the first time ever. Actually, this was Australia's first defeat at the Optus in a Test match.
India's next assignment in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be to play a Pink Ball Test match against Australia which will be held in Adelaide, starting on 6 December.
