"I think he’s probably under pressure a little bit": Glenn McGrath on Virat Kohli

Pace legend Glenn McGrath urges Australia to target under-pressure India great Virat during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy five-Test series Down Under starting in Perth on November 22

Pace legend Glenn McGrath feels Australia have the “ammunition” to target an “emotional” Virat Kohli, who will be under pressure if he gets off to a poor start at the five-match Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting in Perth from November 22. India have won the last four Test series against Australia, including two Down Under. However, they head into the much-anticipated five-Test assignment on the back of a 0-3 series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand at home.

Advantage Australia?

“Without a doubt, especially after coming off a 3-0 loss against New Zealand, you’ve got plenty of ammunition to back yourself up,” Fox Cricket quoted McGrath as saying on CODE Sports. “So put the pressure on them and see if they’re up for it,” he added.

Glenn McGrath

Kohli, who has been India’s batting mainstay for over a decade, has struggled with form in Test cricket recently. In the six matches he’s played this year, he has averaged just a mere 22.72. With the injured Shubman Gill out of contention from the first Test and skipper Rohit Sharma’s participation also in doubt, Kohli will feel the pressure of leading the batting line up.

Also Read: Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma set to miss the first Test, know the opener in his absence

However, the 36-year-old has a penchant of eking out his best in Australia. Kohli has an impressive average of 54.08 in the four Australia tours he has been a part of. And McGrath warned that targeting Kohli aggressively could also lift him, especially if he manages to keep his emotions in check.

Alarming strategy

“If they go hard at him, if he gets in the fight with emotions, there’s a bit of chat out there, who knows he might sort of lift,” said the 54-year-old former Australia pacer who took 563 Test wickets from 124 matches between 1993 and 2007.

“But I think he’s probably under pressure a little bit, and if he has a couple of low scores to start with, he could really feel it. “I think he’s quite an emotional player. When he’s up, he’s up, and when he’s down, he sort of struggles a little bit,” McGrath added.

I’d like to see Kohli make one more Test ton in Aus: Johnson

Former Australia fast-bowler Mitchell Johnson said he wonders if the current situation would give Virat Kohli all the determination he needs to make big runs for India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting in Perth on November 22. “His [Kohli] form hasn’t been at its best recently and he will be under pressure to perform again here in front of the many Indian fans who will turn out. I wonder if the situation will give him all the determination he needs or if it will all be too much for him. As a fan now watching on, maybe I’d like to see him make one more Test ton in Australia,” Johnson wrote in his column for The West Australian on Sunday.

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