The 33-year-old Australia National Cricket Team all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has said that the 34-year-old India National Cricket Team star batter Virat Kohli will be a big threat to the Aussies in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.
The first Test of the marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 will be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur from February 9 to 13.
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Speaking on the Backstage with Boria show, Stoinis said that Australia will be ready to take on the challenge posed by Kohli in the marquee Test series.
“Virat is one of the best ever. The age he is at and the stage he is in his career, he will want to use this series as his platform. The best players always choose the best series. We have seen in the T20 World cup how good he was. It is an indication how hungry he is.
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“He is certainly one who can push us back and we will have to get the better of him to be able to win this series. And I can tell you that we will be ready for him,” Stoinis stated.
The 34-year-old Kohli, who has not registered a ton in Tests since the pink-ball Test against Bangladesh in November 2019, has got an amazing record against Australia.
In 20 Tests against Australia, Kohli has scored 1682 runs at an outstanding average of 48.05. The 34-year-old has registered 7 tons and 5 fifties against the same opposition.
We know what impact Rishabh and Jasprit can have and India will certainly miss them – Marcus Stoinis
Stoinis further said that the key players getting injured and not being available for selection for important games is a big blow to any team. He said that India will certainly miss the services of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, at least for the first two Tests, and Rishabh Pant in the series.
“Look injuries are never good. You always want to play against the best players even if they are in the opposition. That’s what makes our sport what it is. Having said that we know what impact Rishabh and Jasprit can have and India will certainly miss them.
“Rishabh Pant had a huge impact in the last series in Australia and is a game-changer. So is Jasprit. Any team will miss players of their quality. For us, we will miss the reverse swing of someone like Starc in Nagpur. Having said that we have options. Young Lance Morris for example. What a dream debut it will be for him if he gets an opportunity,” Marcus Stoinis added.
The 33-year-old added that the contest between Steve Smith and Ravichandran Ashwin will be an exciting one.
“Steve plays spin very well and if you see his recent record he is in red hot form. He had a fantastic Test series at home and then got a couple of hundreds in the BBL as well. He will be the best prepared for Ashwin who is one of the best ever. I have to say this will be an enthralling contest,” he said.
In 14 Tests against India, the Australian star Steve Smith has amassed 1742 runs at an astonishing average of 72.58, with 8 hundreds and 5 fifties.
On the Indian soil in 6 Tests, Smith has scored 660 runs at an impressive average of 60.00, with 3 tons and 1 half-century. There is no doubt that the 33-year-old will be one of the most prized wickets in the upcoming series.
Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah
