'He's feeling very...': Virat Kohli's mental state after NZ disaster revealed ahead of BGT

Former Indian cricket team mental coach Paddy Upton opened up about star batter Virat Kohli's mental state ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Paddy Upton stated that the whitewash against New Zealand at home affected the Indian team's morale before the challenging tour.

Kohli is currently preparing for the first Test of the five-match series in Perth, starting on November 22. The batter is coming off a challenging series against New Zealand, where he scored only 93 runs across six innings in three matches, with an average of 15.50, including 70 runs in the first Test match.

Virat Kohli Plays His Best Cricket In The Highest Pressure - Paddy Upton

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Paddy Upton said that Virat Kohli plays his best cricket in the highest-pressure situations. Upton added that Kohli remains confident and in good spirits despite a tough outing against New Zealand.

"The reality is to lose 3-0 against New Zealand in India that obviously is going to be a bit of a blow to the morale. That's not nice for anybody, and that doesn't leave them in a great space," Paddy Upton said.

"Going to Australia, it's a very tough tour. It's a very tough opposition. Virat is someone who plays his best cricket in the highest-pressure situations, and although he hasn't done that well recently and he didn't have a good series against New Zealand, what I can tell you is that it hasn't affected him. He still is feeling very good about himself, about his game, and very confident."

Virat Kohli Is Very Ready For It - Paddy Upton

Indian cricketers are in Australia for a tough tour, with Virat Kohli ready to rise to the challenge. Despite recent form, his experience and mental strength make him a key player for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Full interview: https://t.co/4CP1aySq2y #ViratKohli #paddyupton pic.twitter.com/hO4PTgBVuZ

— Paddy Upton (@PaddyUpton1) November 21, 2024

Paddy Upton praised Virat Kohli for his professionalism and dedication, stating that he has never worked with a cricketer who is more professional, diligent, or willing to go the extra mile than Virat. He also acknowledged that even the best players, like Kohli, go through lean patches.

"I have never worked with a cricketer who is more professional, more diligent in their preparations, and someone who goes the extra mile more than Virat. He's very ready for it; he is so experienced," Upton added.

"He knows what it is to play against Australia, and he knows what it is to play a Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He's up, he's ready, and we know that Virat is mentally one of the strongest cricketers in the game. But even the best in the world have bad patches, they have low patches."

Rohit Sharma To Miss India's First Test Of BGT 2024-25 Series

With Rohit Sharma unavailable, Virat Kohli will need to take charge of the batting lineup. Kohli was seen working hard in the nets to prepare for the challenge. He is India's fourth-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 9,040 runs in 118 matches at an average of 47.83, including 31 fifties and 29 centuries.

The 36-year-old batter has scored 1,352 runs in 13 Tests Down Under at an average of 54.08, including four fifties and six centuries. India has won four consecutive bilateral Test series against Australia, including two victories on Australian soil. Under Kohli, India secured their first-ever Test series win in Australia.

Also read: IPL Auction 2025: Shreyas Iyer sensationally hold backdoor talks with..