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Former Australia captain Aaron Finch believes this aggressive approach is Kohli’s way of putting himself under pressure to perform.
Virat Kohli at the MCG [AP Photo]
Former Australian captain Aaron Finch has weighed in on Virat Kohli’s performance and demeanour during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, observing that the Indian batting superstar seems to be “trying to be antagonistic” to reignite his form. Kohli has faced significant criticism for his lacklustre performances in the series and his on-field behaviour, particularly after an incident during the Boxing Day Test.
Kohli’s struggles with deliveries outside off-stump have been a recurring theme, with several dismissals caught by the wicketkeeper or in the slips. Adding to the scrutiny, the 34-year-old clashed with Australian debutant Sam Konstas on Day 1 of the Melbourne Test, resulting in a 20% match fee fine for shoulder contact with the 19-year-old.
Finch, who shared the dressing room with Kohli during the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore, believes this aggressive approach is Kohli’s way of putting himself under pressure to perform.
“Virat’s someone who’s always thrived on pressure and when his back is against the wall. It feels like he is trying to put his own back against the wall,” Finch said on the Around the Wicket Podcast. “He’s trying to be antagonistic, almost pick a fight, because that’s when he plays his best cricket. That’s when he puts all his skills on show.”
Kohli’s numbers in the series so far paint a bleak picture. Since scoring a century in the second innings of the Perth Test, he has managed just 62 runs in six innings. His form in 2024 has also been below par, accumulating 417 Test runs at an average of 24.52—well below his career standards.
In the first innings of the Melbourne Test, Kohli looked solid with a 36 off 84 balls before falling to Scott Boland, caught behind. However, his second innings was brief, scoring only five runs from 29 deliveries.
“It just feels like he’s pushing other people to make him feel like that (under pressure),” Finch added. “We haven’t seen the best of him in this series yet. He looked beautiful in the first innings at Melbourne like he wasn’t going to get out, but credit to Australia—they’ve bowled exceptionally well.”
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Sydney, Australia
