Virat Kohli labelled "faux villain" ahead of IND vs AUS series

The war games have already started ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024, which will be played later this year.

After Ricky Ponting, Ravi Shastri, and Matthew Hayden, it's time for the former Australia quick Geoff Lawson to state this rivalry.

Lawson did not waste any time and directed his views on India's great Virat Kohli. Kohli will be crucial to India's chances in the series.

The 35-year-old has a great record against Australia, having scored 2042 runs in 25 Tests at an average of 47.49. This is the most no. of runs he has scored against any Test-playing nation.

Virat Kohli's Test career took a giant leap from India's tour of Australia in 2011 where he scored a magnificent hundred in Adelaide.

In the 2014-15 series, he scored twin hundreds in the memorable Test match at Adelaide. Since then, he has scored seven Test centuries against Australia.

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Geoff Lawson calls Virat Kohli 'faux villain'

While speaking on Mid-Day, Geoff Lawson called Virat Kohli the 'faux villain'. Lawson claimed that players like Jasprit Bumrah have a likable nature and can win the hearts of the crowd whereas Kohli will keep lurking in the infield.

"Virat Kohli will play the faux villain to Jasprit Bumrah's likable nature. Bumrah has the fast bowler privilege of [spending] half a life at fine leg which gives him the ideal chance to interact with the crowd, winning smiles and hearts while Kohli will lurk in the infield appealing vociferously, fielding magnificently and engaging verbally with any Australian player so inclined to conversation, and there will be one or two of those," Lawson said.

However, Geoff Lawson also mentioned that Australian crowds like a competitor like Virat Kohli and they would appreciate him if he scored a fifty or a hundred. He also added that the pace and bounce in Australia will suit his batting style.

"Aussie crowds love a competitor like Kohli, they may give him some grief if he plays the antagonist but you can guarantee that if he makes 50s and 100s he will be loudly applauded by the fans."

"He has shown a liking for Australian conditions ever since his first tour 13 years ago. Bounce and pace suited his two-footed game but the question in 2024 is whether he still has the razor sharpness to best Australia’s attack on their home surfaces. I wouldn't count him out," Lawson reckoned.

It's time to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy - Geoff Lawson

Geoff Lawson also spoke about Australia's chances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024. He feels that it is time that Australia retains the trophy and finally put an end to the Test series drought against India by bringing the trophy back in the country.

"Pat Cummins may smile a lot but his competitiveness is ingrained and powerful. Having hinted at a never faltering mindset, some Australian players have been quoted as having unfinished business."

"The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been loaned to the BCCI for a decade, it's time to get it back on the trophy shelves in Jolimont [Cricket Australia's headquarters in Victoria]. Australia may hold the World Test Championship but without a home series win against India, the crown sits unsteadily," he added.

Australia's recent record in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Although Australia has a superior head-to-head record over India, the last four series of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have gone India's way with an identical margin of 2-1.

Out of these four, two have been played in Australia and two in India. While beating India in India is never an easy task, Australia will feel the upcoming series is their best chance to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India have won the Test series the last two times they toured Australia. In 2018-19, Virat Kohli led the team to the series win.

Meanwhile in 2020-21, Virat Kohli was India's captain but left the series midway after the first Test. Ajinkya Rahane took over the captaincy and led the team brilliantly to script a memorable comeback.