Cricket

Virat Kohli, the star Indian batsman, has arrived in Perth, Australia, more than 10 days ahead of the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Kohli is the first player from the visiting team to land Down Under, with some of his teammates still in transit and others departing with coach Gautam Gambhir on Monday.India and Australia will face off in a five-Test series, with India being the current title-holders of the prestigious BGT. The Aussies, on the other hand, are eager to reclaim the trophy they haven't won since 2014.According to a report in 'The West Australian,' Kohli reached Perth on Sunday evening. The Indian squad is expected to begin training at the WACA Ground from Tuesday in preparation for the first Test. However, the venue is under lockdown to keep the Indian camp strictly behind closed doors.Kohli, 36, has been facing criticism for his prolonged poor form. He has had a forgettable 2024 so far, with only two international fifties to his name and a disappointing home Test season leading up to the Australia tour.His struggles against spinners have been evident in the 10 Test innings he played against Bangladesh and New Zealand. While India swept Bangladesh 2-0 in the Test series, Kohli could only manage 99 runs at an average of 33.00, with a highest score of 47.The New Zealand series was a disaster for India, as they suffered a 0-3 whitewash at home for the first time in a three-Test series. In his six innings against the Kiwis, Kohli's bat failed to make an impression, except for one innings where he scored 70. He could only accumulate 23 runs in the other five knocks, aggregating a mere 93 runs at an average of 15.50.While some have speculated that the Australia tour could be Kohli's last appearance in Tests, the batting icon will be determined to rediscover his form in red-ball cricket during the BGT, which begins on November 22 in Perth.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed unwavering confidence in skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli, asserting that they remain "incredibly hungry" to perform and will bounce back in Australia.Gambhir's comments come amidst concerns over India's recent 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand. However, the coach dismissed theories that he is under pressure, stating that he is honored to lead the Indian team."There are incredible people in the dressing room who have done a great job," Gambhir said. "I am not feeling the heat. It's an honor and privilege to coach the Indian team."Gambhir emphasized that the team is not undergoing a transition but is focused on the upcoming five-Test series against Australia. He acknowledged the presence of "incredibly tough characters" in the dressing room who are eager to prove themselves.Regarding the series-opening Perth Test, Gambhir confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah, as the designated vice-captain, will lead the side if Rohit Sharma is unavailable for personal reasons. He also mentioned that KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran are options for the opener's slot.Gambhir's unwavering support for Sharma and Kohli is significant, given their recent struggles with form. Sharma has not scored a century in over a year, while Kohli has not reached the three-figure mark in international cricket since November 2019.However, Gambhir believes that both players have the experience and determination to overcome their challenges. He pointed out that they have been through similar situations in the past and have always emerged stronger."They are still incredibly hungry to perform," Gambhir said. "They are not going to give up. They are going to keep fighting and keep trying to get better."India's tour of Australia will be a major test for the team, especially after their disappointing performance against New Zealand. However, Gambhir's confidence in his players suggests that they are ready to face the challenge head-on.

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has strongly defended star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma against criticism from former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Ponting had expressed concerns about the form of both players, who have struggled with the bat in recent times.Gambhir dismissed Ponting's comments, stating that they have no relevance to Indian cricket. He emphasized the importance of hunger and determination within the team, and praised Kohli and Sharma as "incredibly tough men."Kohli has endured a difficult 2024, with only two international fifties to his name. His struggles against spinners have been particularly evident in the 10 Test innings he played against Bangladesh and New Zealand.Despite India's 2-0 Test series victory over Bangladesh, Kohli managed only 99 runs at an average of 33.00. In the subsequent three-Test series against New Zealand, he scored just 93 runs at an average of 15.50, with only one score of 70.Rohit's poor form has also impacted his captaincy. In the four innings of the two Test matches against Bangladesh, he scored just 43 runs at an average of 10.50. Against New Zealand, he managed only 91 runs at an average of 15.16, with his highest score being 52.India's upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia will be crucial for both Kohli and Rohit. Kohli will be eager to rediscover his form in red-ball cricket, while Rohit will be looking to improve his captaincy and lead India to victory.India need to win four Tests in Australia to directly qualify for the World Test Championships final, which will be held at Lord's in June 2025.

Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq's recent comments have reignited memories of his infamous altercation with Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL). The on-field spat between the two players became a major talking point of the tournament.During a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow, Kohli and Naveen engaged in a heated argument. The incident escalated when Gautam Gambhir, LSG's mentor at the time, intervened and clashed with Kohli.Following the incident, Naveen and Kohli met in Delhi during Afghanistan's ODI World Cup match against India in October 2023. The duo surprised fans by embracing and seemingly resolving their differences. However, the journey between the spat and the reunion was marked by Naveen's frequent digs at Kohli.In a recent interview with ESPNCricinfo, Naveen was asked a witty question: "Never eat a mango again or never take a five-for?" Naveen's amusing response was, "Never eat a mango again." He also expressed his preference to bat with Kohli rather than bowl to him.Naveen's comments come after he was released from LSG's squad ahead of the upcoming IPL season. LSG retained Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi, along with uncapped stars Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni.It remains to be seen whether RCB will target Naveen in the upcoming mega auctions. The young Afghan pacer's performances and his history with Kohli could make him an intriguing prospect for the Bangalore-based franchise.

Virat Kohli Departs for Australia Amidst Crucial Border-Gavaskar TrophyIndian cricket star Virat Kohli was spotted at the Mumbai airport on Saturday night, departing for Australia ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Indian team embarks on a challenging tour Down Under, where they will face the formidable Australian side in a five-match Test series commencing on November 22 in Perth.Kohli, along with his family, was seen at the airport before his departure. Despite the presence of his family, Kohli graciously obliged to fans' requests for photographs, cheekily remarking, "I can't take pictures with you guys while holding my family back."The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has become even more crucial for the Indian team following their unprecedented home whitewash against New Zealand. To qualify for the World Test Championship final without relying on other teams' results, India must win four out of the five Tests in the upcoming series.Kohli's recent home season was below par, with scores of 6, 17, 47, 29*, 0, 70, 1, 17, 4, and 1 in the five Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand. However, the Indian team will be hoping for a strong performance from their star batter in Australia.The Indian team will depart for Australia in two batches on November 10 and 11. The first batch, including Kohli, will arrive in Perth on November 12, while the second batch will join them on November 14.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a prestigious Test series between India and Australia, named after former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar and former Australian captain Allan Border. India has won the trophy three times, while Australia has won it nine times. The last series, held in Australia in 2018-19, was won by India 2-1.

Virat Kohli, the star Indian batter, celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday with his wife Anushka Sharma and two children. Despite a disappointing performance in the recent Test series against New Zealand, Kohli is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which begins on November 22.Ahead of the series, Kohli was spotted in Mumbai with his wife, where he was approached by an enthusiastic fan. In a heartwarming gesture, Kohli obliged the fan's request for a selfie, demonstrating his humility and accessibility.Earlier, Kohli attended an event hosted by HSBC, where he was surprised by fans singing "Happy Birthday." The crowd's affectionate gesture left Kohli smiling and appreciative.Kohli's birthday celebrations come amidst preparations for the IPL 2025 auction, where he will be the top-retention pick for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The auction will be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with over 1,500 players registered to participate.Kohli's recent performances have been below his usual standards, but he remains a key figure in Indian cricket. His experience and leadership will be crucial for India's success in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the IPL 2025 season.

Virat Kohli, the talismanic Indian batter, faces a crucial test as India prepares to take on Australia in the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting November 22nd. While Kohli's record against Australia remains formidable, his recent form has raised concerns about his ability to deliver on Australian soil.Kohli's Test performance has witnessed a significant decline since 2020. His average has plummeted to 31.68 from a commanding average exceeding 50 in the preceding years. This slump includes a meager two centuries in 34 Test matches, a statistic that even surprised former Australian captain Ricky Ponting."I saw a stat the other day about Virat, it said he has only scored two (three) Test hundreds in the last five years. That did not seem right to me, but if that is right, then that is, I mean, that is a concern," Ponting told ICC. "There would not be anyone else probably even playing international cricket as a top-order batsman that has only scored two Test match hundreds in five years."Kohli's struggles are further highlighted by his Test average in 2024, plummeting to 22.72, his lowest since his debut year in 2011. This poor run of form has seen him drop out of the ICC Men's Test Batting Rankings top 20 for the first time in a decade.Adding to the pressure, Kohli's recent home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand yielded a paltry 192 runs in 10 innings, averaging a meager 21.33. This performance stands in stark contrast to his career average of 47.48 against Australia, with a remarkable eight centuries and five fifties in 25 matches.Despite the concerning statistics, Ricky Ponting remains optimistic about Kohli's chances. "I have said it before about Virat, you do not ever question the greats of the game. There is no doubt, he is a great of the game," remarked Ponting. "He loves playing against Australia. In fact, I know he loves playing against Australia. And as I said, his record in Australia is very good. If there is a time for him to turn it around, it would be this series. So I would not be surprised to see Virat make runs in the first game."Kohli's past performance in Australia certainly supports Ponting's confidence. He boasts an average of 54.08 on Australian pitches, amassing 1,352 runs in 13 Tests, including six centuries.The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy carries immense weight as it contributes to the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 qualification. India will be looking to Kohli to rediscover his form and lead the batting lineup against a formidable Australian bowling attack.

With India's upcoming five-match Test series against Australia looming, the form of star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has become a major talking point. The duo's recent struggles have raised concerns after India's embarrassing 0-3 whitewash at home to New Zealand.Rohit managed a mere 91 runs in six innings, while Kohli fared slightly better with 93 runs as India suffered a humiliating defeat. These poor performances have sparked calls for the duo to be dropped from the Test squad.However, former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes Rohit and Kohli's recent slump is primarily due to mental fatigue, evident in their shot selection."Take nothing away from New Zealand, but it tells me India are so fatigued. Some of their shot selection, the use of bowlers, and even Rohit coming out and saying he wasn't at his best - I just think it was mental fatigue. They've played so much cricket without a break, but it'll be a little kick up the backside for them," Clarke said on ESPN's Around the Wicket Podcast.Clarke expressed confidence that Rohit and Kohli can regain their form if they arrive in Australia refreshed."They know they've played well out here in Australia, and they'll still come here with plenty of talent and that self-belief, but hopefully fresh. That's the key for the Indian players. Virat Kohli - you can't be that good for such a long period of time and just turn the tap off. So once he freshens up, and Rohit Sharma the same, you'll see the best of them," he added.Meanwhile, India captain Rohit is likely to miss the first Test against Australia, scheduled to be played in Perth from November 22.India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Jasprit Bumrah (VC)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Abhimanyu Easwaran* Shubman Gill* Virat Kohli* KL Rahul* Rishabh Pant (WK)* Sarfaraz Khan* Dhruv Jurel (WK)* R Ashwin* R Jadeja* Mohd. Siraj* Akash Deep* Prasidh Krishna* Harshit Rana* Nitish Kumar Reddy* Washington SundarReserves:* Mukesh Kumar* Navdeep Saini* Khaleel Ahmed

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has advised Pakistan's Babar Azam to emulate Virat Kohli's approach to regain his lost form. Babar has been struggling for runs in recent Tests, prompting his omission from the last two matches against England.Ponting believes that Babar should consider taking a break from cricket to recharge, similar to what Kohli did earlier this year. Kohli's break proved beneficial, as he returned to form with a match-winning knock in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final."The biggest challenge is how they get Babar back into their side. They've got to find a way to get Babar back into form and back into their (Test) team," Ponting said in the ICC Review.Ponting suggested that Babar may be trying too hard and needs to step away from the game to clear his mind. "Maybe Babar needs to get away for a while and stop trying too hard. Lock the kit bag away for a while, and think about something else and then hopefully come back recharged," he said.Babar's Test record stands at 3,997 runs in 55 matches at an average of 43.92. However, he has not scored a half-century in his last 18 innings, dating back to late 2022.Pakistan's recent Test series victory over England, their first under Shan Masood's captaincy, has raised questions about Babar's future in the team. Ponting believes that Babar remains a world-class player but needs to find a way to rediscover his form."We know at his best he's as good as anyone going around. Hopefully, we get to see that in the back half of his career again," Ponting said.