IND vs AUS: “He Activates The Beast Mode” – Aakash Chopra On Virat Kohli Playing Against Australia

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has said that the batting maestro Virat Kohli “activates the beast mode” when he plays against Australia National Cricket Team.

Kohli will be in action against Australia at home in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. The marquee 4-match Test series between Rohit Sharma-led India and Pat Cummins-led Australia is all set to commence on February 9 in Nagpur. The remaining matches will be played in Delhi, Dharamsala and Ahmedabad.

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On the Aakashvani show on JioCinema, Aakash Chopra was asked about his expectations from Kohli in the upcoming Test series. He replied that Kohli, who elevates his game when he is up against Australia, will have to perform well in the upcoming series if Team India want to win.

“This is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and if we have to do well in this, it is almost imperative for Virat Kohli to score runs. There is one thing about Virat – he becomes a different beast when he plays against Australia.

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“He activates the beast mode slightly. His best performances have generally come against this team. So you will have the expectations once again,” he said.

In 20 Tests against the Aussies, former India captain Kohli has scored 1682 runs at an average of 48.05, with 7 tons and 5 fifties.

I am expecting at least two centuries, That’s not an unfair ask – Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator further pinpointed that Kohli has misread the length against spinners in the last few series and he will have to be mindful of that. Chopra added that he is expecting Kohli to register at least two tons in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.

“The only thing, which I felt in the last series as well, was where he played a full delivery from Taijul Islam on the back foot and it went and hit the stumps, and Mitchell Santner also dismissed him similarly in the ODIs. That’s one thing where he has gotten out early a few times.

“So he will have to keep that slightly in his mind, playing the full delivery on the back foot against a bowler who takes the ball slightly away from him. Besides that, it is a four-Test series, so I am expecting at least two centuries. That’s not an unfair ask. He is Virat Kohli, run-machine Kohli. Hopefully, he will score runs,” he added.

Also Read: IND vs AUS: These Are Very Early Days: Aakash Chopra Comes Up With A Scathing Remark On Shubman Gill-Virat Kohli Comparisons

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