Virat Kohli opens up on his form ahead of Day 1 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test, says different approach is needed

India’s veteran batter Virat Kohli has opened up on his form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy against Australia. Barring scoring a century in the second innings at Perth, Kohli has returned with scores of 5, 7, 11, and 3 in the ongoing five-match Test series.

Kohli was dismissed while meddling with the outside off-stump delivery at the Gabba, Brisbane by Josh Hazlewood. The talisman feels the Australian pitches in the ongoing series are spicier than they were in the last two tours.

The former Indian captain admitted he hasn’t been able to show patience in the middle against the home team.

Virat Kohli said on Star Sports, “Last two or three innings hasn’t gone the way I wanted to. As I said, haven’t been disciplined enough to stick in there and, you know, really grind it out. And that’s what the challenge that Test Cricket brings. Obviously, these pitches are much more livelier than the last time that we played here. So, there’s a different approach that’s required.”

“But that’s something that I’ve taken a lot of pride in to go out there and counter different conditions and step up when the team wants me to or needs me to. So, yeah, the idea is to get stuck in, as I said. Go in there, get your eyes set in, play enough number of balls that you start playing a game afterwards, but respect the conditions foremost. Team point of view, they’ll be in a good shape of mind.”

On the other hand, India were able to avoid the follow-on in the third Test as they scored 260 runs after Australia posted 445 runs on the board. 

“To avoid the follow-on in Brisbane and the way the tail got stuck in. And to make sure that we’re not batting again under pressure was massive. And in the end, it ended up to be a draw when the situation was looking bleak for us. So yeah, we have really got stuck in, shown character at the right stage. And that has given us another chance to start afresh and approach this game like we approached the first one,” Kohli said in the same conversation.

Australia are 248-5 after 70 overs on the opening day of the fourth Test at the MCG.