"He is not gelling with the captain probably and the coach" - Brendon Julian senses friction involving Virat Kohli ahead of 2024-25 BGT
Former Australian cricketer Brendon Julian feels that all might not be well with Virat Kohli when it comes to his relationship with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Men in Blue head into the five-match affair on the back of a humiliating whitewash at home against New Zealand, leaving the heavyweight trio under some serious pressure.
Kohli's past squabbles with Gambhir have been well-documented, and according to reports, the former skipper was consulted before the BCCI confirmed the new head coach's appointment. The pair had more or less settled their differences with a heart-warming interaction during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), and agreed to not bring the past into relevance to steer Indian cricket ahead.
As far as Kohli's relationship with Rohit is concerned, the pair bowed out together in T20Is following the 2024 T20 World Cup. They have spoken highly of each other in the media, and there is nothing to suggest any sort of unrest, based on their on-field interactions.
"The way that Virat Kohli got out against New Zealand – for him to get out like that in that Test series was unbelievable. Kohli is not at his best. He is not gelling with the captain probably and the coach but having said that, he can quickly turn it around. But if they start pulling in Perth, I reckon it'll be all over," Julian said on Fox Sports via Hindustan Times.
Kohli was one of the first players to land in Australia ahead of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and has begun practice with the rest of his teammates at the WACA in Perth.
"The Aussies will clean up India in 4 days" - Brendon Julian
India were shaping up quite well for a potential third straight series win in Australia midway through the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle. However, the series loss to New Zealand has done a lot more harm than just an embarrassing scoreline. Uncertainties when it comes to personnel, and the concerning forms of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli arguably make India the underdogs.
Brendon Julian remarked that the Men in Blue will fold up in Perth in quick time, and expressed doubt as to how Bumrah will balance both captaincy and bowling together.
"The Aussies will clean up India in 4 days. There are worrying signs for India, straight at the top. Rohit Sharma is not playing the first Test; he has come out and said that. So Jasprit Bumrah will captain the side. Now that's a lot of pressure when you're the opening bowler. He is a wonderful bowler; no doubt about that. But all of a sudden when you're opening the bowling and captaining the side, that's a whole different ball game," Julian added.
The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to begin from November 22 onwards. The first Test will take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth.