Sanjay Manjrekar said that Virat Kohli is expected to be 'fired up' as he gears up for India's two-match Test series against South Africa. Kohli has been away from any form of cricket since India's defeat to Australia in the World Cup 2023 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
During India's previous tour of South Africa, Kohli faced challenges, accumulating only 161 runs in two Tests, averaging 40.25, with a highest score of 79.
Manjrekar noted that Kohli tends to perform at his peak when he is motivated and mentioned that if the 35-year-old cricketer gets 'angry', it brings out the best in him as a batter.
However, Manjrekar doesn't anticipate the former Indian captain displaying extra aggression under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, who, like Kohli, has not participated in any cricketing events since the World Cup final.
“No (stump-mic aggression from last series repeat?) because we have a new leader in Rohit Sharma. But you are right, it brings back memories of players saying something that they have never done before, suggesting that the local broadcasters supported the South African team and all that.”
"But that was a different temperamental team the last time around, under Rohit Sharma, they tend to play differently. It's always the captain who creates the culture, so I don't see that happening," Manjrekar was quoted as saying on Star Sports.
“I see Virat Kohli doing his own few things. He is going to get fired up. The last trip to South Africa, he did not get a big one and Kohli has had to work harder for Test runs recently. When Virat Kohli is all fired up and angry, that's the sight I like. David Warner as well. When they get a little fired up, you see them batting better,” the 58-year-old added.
The first Test between India and Temba Bavuma's South Africa is scheduled to commence on December 26 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. India will enter the series following a 1-1 tie in the T20I series and a 2-1 victory in the ODI series.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Simon Doull names 'India's most selfless cricketer in a long time' and it's not Virat Kohli, KL Rahul or Mohammed Shami
Watch: KL Rahul's 'Ram Siya Ram' comment to Keshav Maharaj steals the show in 3rd ODI; video goes viral
