Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell feels that Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli was asked a lot of questions by England pacers Stuart Broad and James Anderson during the 2014 and 2021 tours in England, but it might not be the case for Virat Kohli this time against Australia, as he looks in tremendous touch in recent times.
The star batter made runs all around the world and established himself as one of the modern-day greats. Virat Kohli will be the x-factor for the Indian team in the World Test Championship final against Australia. Only, the former Indian skipper in the Indian squad has scored more than 1000 runs in England.
Speaking on Backstage with Boria Majumdar’, Ian Chappell said that Virat Kohli was not his usually best during his previous England tours, as he struggled to get going against the England pacers, as they used their home conditions pretty well to trouble the Indian batting maestro in past series and reckons that Australia bowlers might not be able to do the same thing, as they will also need to adapt the England conditions.
“Virat Kohli was asked a lot of questions in England in 2014 and 2021 by Anderson, Broad, and the rest of the English bowlers. They bowled some excellent lines and lengths to him in conditions that suited them. They knew he is the best and lifted themselves when bowling to him. To think or say that the Australians will not be able to do the same from ball one. The English know their conditions better than anyone else in the world,” Ian Chappell said.
India will compete in their second straight World Test Championship final this time taking on Australia in search of their first ICC trophy since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013 under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli is expected to play a pivotal role against Australia in England.
Virat Kohli Loves A Contest And Is Never One To Back Off From One – Ian Chappell
Ian Chappell said that Virat Kohli loves to bat against the Aussies bowling attack, as his stats against Australia looks exceptional in both home and away conditions, and feels that Oval conditions will suit Virat Kohli’s style of batting as the weather looks dry so far in England and believes that Kohli is a player, who can make the difference for his side in the WTC final.
“Virat loves to bat against the Australians. We have seen that in Australia. His record is evidence of how good he is. He loves a contest and is never one to back off from one. The Oval from all of my experience is going to bounce and it will suit Virat. You have said to me that the weather has stayed dry so far. If the weather continues to stay dry the Oval is as close to an Australian wicket in England as you will ever get”.
“And that will suit Virat. I think if he is mentally switched on like I have said to you earlier in the conversation, he will get runs for India. He is a very good player and someone who can make a telling difference,” Ian Chappell added.
Virat Kohli has been a revelation since he made a comeback into his starting in Asia Cup 2022, In the BGT 2023, The former Indian skipper scored a Test century after almost a gap of three years and five months, as he scored back-to-back centuries in the IPL 2023 to finish his season with an impressive score of 639 runs from 14 matches and will look to put to his hand for all-important final against Australia to end India’s title drought in the ICC events.