Glenn McGrath talks about Virat Kohli ahead of Border Gavaskar Trophy

Australian bowling legend Glenn McGrath has weighed in on Virat Kohli’s recent form struggles in Test cricket, offering a tactical suggestion for the Australian team ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Speaking about Kohli’s performance, McGrath emphasized the need to exploit the Indian star batter's emotional vulnerabilities as a potential strategy. Kohli, who has been a cornerstone of India’s batting lineup for over a decade, has endured a tough year in red-ball cricket. His average has dropped to an uncharacteristic 22.73, with only a solitary half-century to his name. These numbers are a stark contrast to his usually dominant performances. The concerns about his form were magnified during India’s recent Test series against New Zealand, where Kohli struggled to make an impact.

Out of six innings, he failed to reach double figures on four occasions, exposing a rare fragility in his game. McGrath offered a critical analysis of Kohli's struggles, attributing some of his issues to heightened expectations and self-imposed pressure. He suggested that Australia could capitalize on this by keeping Kohli under relentless scrutiny, both on and off the field. According to McGrath, maintaining discipline in line and length, coupled with psychological pressure, might force Kohli into making mistakes.

“Without a doubt, especially after coming off a 3-0 loss against New Zealand, you’ve got plenty of ammunition to back yourself up. So put the pressure on them and see if they’re up for it," said former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath. 

Glenn McGrath further highlighted the psychological dimension of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, noting that Australia holds a significant mental advantage following India’s recent 0-3 defeat against New Zealand. McGrath emphasized that such setbacks could weigh heavily on the Indian team, particularly on star batter Virat Kohli, whose form in Test cricket has been under scrutiny.

The former Australian pacer stressed that Kohli’s mental resilience could be put to the test, especially if the 36-year-old has a shaky start to the series. According to McGrath, Australia could strategically exploit this vulnerability by maintaining consistent pressure on Kohli, both on the field and through their aggressive approach. By combining psychological tactics with their strong bowling arsenal, the Australians could make life difficult for the Indian batting maestro.

McGrath’s remarks reflect Australia’s tactical mindset, often centered on breaking the opposition's morale early in a series. Kohli, who thrives under pressure, will be aware of the need to overcome this mental battle to regain his form and lead India’s charge in the series. The clash of strategies, mental toughness, and on-field execution promises to add another layer of intensity to the much-anticipated contest.

“If they go hard at him, if he gets in the fight with emotions, there’s a bit of chat out there, who knows he might sort of lift. But I think he’s probably under pressure a little bit, and if he has a couple of low scores to start with, he could really feel it. I think he’s quite an emotional player. When he’s up, he’s up, and when he’s down, he sort of struggles a little bit," McGrath concluded.