If the build-up to the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series is anything to go by, it will be a battle between the Australia pacers and India skipper Virat Kohli. The outcome of that battle might well decide who triumphs.
With less than 48 hours left for the first Test, Kohli was once again the cynosure of all eyes during India’s practice session. If one has deduce anything from that, it is Kohli’s stroke-making. All the Indian pacers – Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami – were in action, and Kohli wasn’t ruffled by what was hurled at him.
When the spinners came on, the 30-year-old used his feet to clear the ball over mid-on. One can expect the intimidating Aussie pace triumvirate of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins to be a lot more hostile. Having smashed 692 runs at an average of 86 in the previous series Down Under, Kohli is widely expected to pick it up from where he left.
Watch this clip released by cricket.com.au and like the tweet says, have the volume on, to hear the sweet sound of the ball meeting the sweet spot of the MRF Genius bat.
India skipper Virat Kohli in the Adelaide Oval nets today (watch with the sound on).@alintaenergy | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/OnhH5i7xkP
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 4, 2018
The video has since gone viral.
Don’t think it used to sound like that off my bat....🤭😂 https://t.co/a9JnjEEvpC
— Paul Collingwood (@Colly622) December 4, 2018
Wow!!!! https://t.co/ZzzNYFRAcK
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) December 4, 2018
😱.... Look out 🇦🇺 ❗
— Mike Haysman (@MikeHaysman) December 4, 2018
Nice idea by the way to start the series in Adelaide! https://t.co/dpYDbEWgpn
Don’t think it used to sound like that off my bat....🤭😂 https://t.co/a9JnjEEvpC
— Paul Collingwood (@Colly622) December 4, 2018
Who needs apps with gentle waves or rain falling when you can loop these beautiful sounds to fall to sleep too! #cricketheaven #AUSvsIND https://t.co/IhoT6ZUCf9
— Mel 'MJ' Jones (@meljones_33) December 4, 2018
What an exhilarating minute of video to watch! #AUSvIND https://t.co/8DeukylPvz
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) December 4, 2018
Cricket Australia are trying their level best to jinx the tour for Virat. I am a bit worried. https://t.co/I7jOrqXw7v
— cricBC (@cricBC) December 4, 2018
I get the sense he is in the mood !!!!! https://t.co/8YDOSoIr25
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 4, 2018
Indian fans will ensure that this video is tagged to all Aussie bowlers and social media managers of these bowlers should not allow bowlers to see it :) https://t.co/RoKwhuB7iO
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) December 4, 2018
Now this is practicing with a true focus and purpose! #Supercharged https://t.co/onp6vSJhRK
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 5, 2018
Kohli is such a middle class player. He middles everything and has a class of his own. https://t.co/G5iOtFIrjv
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) December 5, 2018