‘Kohli needs to be in a good state of mind’ – Hanuma Vihari backs star batter to come good down under

Vihari and Kohli (Twitter)

Virat Kohli is having a tough time with the bat as the batter displayed sub-par performance in both innings of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. The right-handed batter scored six runs in the first innings and departed after scoring 17 runs in the second. But former India cricketer, Hanuma Vihari has backed Kohli to come goof against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Kohli looked settled in the second innings having scored 17 runs but he was wrongly adjudged LBW. But the batter did not look confident and abstained from taking a DRS and the call was heavily criticised by the fans. Vihari acknowledged that the batter is not at his best but also added that any batter goes through a form of turmoil mentally.

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“I wouldn’t say crucial. Virat Kohli needs to be in a good state of mind. I know he has not played Tests for a while now. He missed out on the England Test series due to his commitments. But coming back to Tests after a while, it takes time to get into your groove, to get that mental space and to have that routine back. India should not be concerned with Virat’s form because we know when the real Test comes he will stand up,” Vihari said as quoted by Times Now.

India will be touring Australia for the five-match Test series as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India will commence their campaign with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 22. It is worth noting that under Kohli India won the first Test series in Australia in 71 years as they lifted the BGT in 2019. India are defending the trophy having defeated Australia by 2-1 in 2023.