Glenn McGrath Believes Virat Kohli and Brian Lara Have Similarity Over 'Aggression'

Former Australian legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath has compared the aggressive on-field antics of Virat Kohli with former Windies legend Brian Lara. He stated that when it comes to verbal duels Kohli is much like Lara, who used to talk quite a lot on the field.

McGrath was quite verbal on the field during his heydays. He used to put off oppositions with his verbal volleys. However, with the guys like Lara and Kohli, he has realized that sledging only makes them more determined.

Virat Kohli has got into many verbal duels in the past:

However, unlike other cricketers, he has always been at his peak. The runs have always flown from his bat and hence he has never been questioned for his aggressive nature.

It is the sort of attitude which tends to get the best out of Kohli. Poking at oppositions at times is the best ploy to get Kohli more determined and score runs.

Virat Kohli resembles Brian Lara: Glenn McGrath

“It just depends on how they are going. Brian Lara was very similar. When he was focussed and in the zone and if you said anything to him, that was it…you could lock in, he would score a double hundred. It was just his day. You knew that was going to happen,” Sportskeeda quoted McGrath saying by during an exclusive chat. McGrath is currently at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai guiding young fast bowlers.

“So Virat’s probably a little bit similar (to Lara). If he is on form and focussed and scoring runs, I think he loves that banter, that challenge and that aggression there and it gets him going,” he added.

“But when you are off your game and you are not performing well and you are down on confidence, it can work against you. So little of bit chat here and there… But if you throw a willy-nilly it could work against you (as bowlers). It’s all part of the game, you have to enjoy it and have a bit of fun. Play hard, tough but fair cricket out there,” he further added.

The Indian skipper Kohli scored a sensational 149 in the opening Test against England at Edgbaston to keep India the match quite single-handedly.

Well, it was indeed a special knock from the modern maestro. He was in an enormous pressure to score runs after a horrendous tour of England back in 2014.