"I'm genuinely worried for the Australian cricket team" - David Warner fears Virat Kohli will regain form in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25
Retired Australian opener David Warner expressed concerns for the hosts despite Virat Kohli's struggles ahead of the Test series, which will begin on November 22 in Perth. Warner believes Kohli loves playing against Australia and is worried that the series will bring the best out of him.
While the 36-year-old boasts of promising numbers in Tests against Australia, his recent form has been far from great. The last five years have seen Kohli manage only three Test hundreds, and he finished with just 93 runs in six innings in the previous series against New Zealand, which India lost 3-0.
Writing in his column for The Herald Sun, the former opener stated that people must be wary about writing off Kohli, given he will be going toe-to-toe against Australia Down Under.
"I’m worried about Virat Kohli … but not for the reasons everyone else is. People want to write Virat off after India’s disastrous 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand this month, but I’m actually worried for Australia. This is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and we know Virat always steps up in Australia and completely embraces that challenge like almost no one else who has ever visited our shores. I’m genuinely worried for the Australian cricket team that he’s going to come out and pile on some runs."
Kohli first toured Australia during the 2011-12 leg and has since then compiled six centuries in 13 Tests. He has scored 1352 runs at an average of 54.08.
"Middle-order batting wins games in Australia" - David Warner
Warner feels middle-order batters of both teams will play a decisive role as they have the ability to cash in when the ball becomes old, adding:
"I really do think this series may come down to which team’s middle order can dominate. Middle-order batting wins the games in Australia. If you can get an opener to bat as long as they can and grind into that second or third session, it always holds you in good stead in Australia because then the middle order can really cash in."
Australia are set to hand a Test debut to Nathan McSweeney, who will open alongside Usman Khawaja.