‘Might just see him firing once again’ – Ravi Shastri wants Virat Kohli to revert to his antagonist role during BGT 2024-25

‘Might just see him firing once again’ – Ravi Shastri wants Virat Kohli to revert to his antagonist role during BGT 2024-25. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Ravi Shastri admitted that people become calm with age while citing Virat Kohli’s example. However, the former India coach feels that the Delhi batter will be better served if he revives his feisty, antagonist role during the impending Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Kohli has been a pale shadow of his former self in the red-ball format in recent times. Since the beginning of 2020, the 36-year-old has averaged only 32 with the bat, managing only two centuries in his last 60 Test innings. In 2024, the form slump has been alarming, as the run machine of yesteryears has only averaged 22.72 across six games and registered just one half-century in his last 10 innings.

Shastri, who has seen Kohli plying his trade from close quarters during his stint as India’s head coach, urged the right-handed batter to tap into his fiery persona, as it can help him revive his fortunes in the longest format of the game.

“You mellow with age, don’t you? But I think at the start of the Test series, you might just see Kohli firing again. He needs to be. I’d like to see him like that again,” Shastri said during a press interaction on Tuesday.

“In the face that’s Kohli. Come Australia, he’ll get his juices flowing. It’s all about how he starts, and for Australia, it’s similar to Steve Smith. Don’t write these guys off they fire in the first two or three innings, they can dominate the series,” he added.

Some of Kohli’s standout performances in Test cricket have come on Australian soil. While some experts and fans have started questioning the stalwart’s future in the format, Shastri firmly believes that he hasn’t gone past his prime and a high-voltage series against Australia could just help him return to his best.

Ravi Shastri shares views on India opting for the intra-squad game instead of an organized opponent

The ace commentator feels that India should have opted to face an organized opponent instead of playing an intra-squad warm-up match against India A. However, he kept his faith in the move and hoped that it would augur well for the Asian giants.

“It’s always, ‘How strong will the opposition be?’ That’s the first question you ask (planning a tour game),” Shastri said.

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The first Test gets underway on Friday, November 22, at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Rohit Sharma is likely to miss this encounter as Jasprit Bumrah is set to lead the Indian side in the Test format for the second time.

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