Australia's star batter, Marnus Labuschagne recounted his initial impression of Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli prior to the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The five Test matches between the two best teams in the current cycle might determine the result of the World Test Championship final, which is scheduled for London next year. Known for his ability to score runs, particularly against India, Labuschagne recalled the 2018 series as the first time he saw Kohli don the Indian Test colours.
Labuschagne on his first encounter with Kohli
Looking back on his meetings with Kohli, Labuschagne remarked that Kohli was 'very intense' on the field, displaying a level of energy he had not seen since that series.
"My first memory of Virat was probably, from a playing perspective, the 2018 series. He was captain at that time, I think, and he was quite intense. When I watched the series, it was a very intense series. I probably haven't seen that same Virat since then, you know, the start of that series. For a long time, he's just been a quality act, but my first memory would be that," Labuschagne told Star Sports.
Labuschagne will be keen to build on his stellar record against India in Test cricket during the forthcoming series. The 30-year-old has amassed 775 runs at an average of 45.58 in 10 games, including three fifties and one hundred. On November 22, the first ball of the BGT series will be bowled in Perth, with both teams on a difficult route to the WTC final.
India needs to win four Test matches and make sure that only one ends in a tie or loss after New Zealand's historic series thumping at home. Australia's prospects of defending the championship, meanwhile, depend on avoiding a series loss.
