Former Team India bowling coach Bharat Arun shared an intriguing story about Virat Kohli’s mindset during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against Australia. Arun said that although Kohli scored a century in Perth in a losing cause, he lifted the dressing room with his confidence.
Virat Kohli led India to their first-ever Test series victory on Australian soil. Kohli scored nine Test centuries against Australia. Notably, the right-handed batter smashed seven centuries in Australia, holding the record as the highest-scoring Indian batter in terms of Test hundreds on Australian pitches.
Virat Kohli became India’s full-time Test captain during the 2014-15 Australia tour. The star batter scored four centuries in that series, but India lost 0-2. After the setback, Kohli was determined to change India’s fortunes in future tours down under.
India started the 2018 Border-Gavaskar Trophy on a positive note with strong performances from Cheteshwar Pujara in Adelaide. Australia fought back in Perth despite Kohli’s century.
The series was tied 1-1 going into the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, where Jasprit Bumrah’s nine wickets and crucial batting from Kohli and Pujara helped India win the match and claim their first-ever Test series victory in Australia.
Virat Kohli Literally Changed the Dressing Room Mindset - Bharat Arun
Bharat Arun described the series tied at 1-1 as a defining moment for the team. Arun stated that Kohli transformed the team’s mindset ahead of Melbourne.
"Virat had just scored a fantastic hundred at Perth but we did not win that match," Arun told PTI.
"Going into Melbourne, it was Virat who literally changed the dressing room mindset. He made everyone believe that we could do it and went about his business as a leader in a manner unrivalled," he added.
Virat Kohli Respected the Format Above All Else - Bharat Arun
Bharat Arun said that Virat Kohli respected Test cricket and brought a unique presence to the game. Arun emphasized that Kohli’s leadership and personality set him apart and that both Indian and global Test cricket will feel his absence.
"He respected the format more than anything else and will be missed. Indian and world Test cricket will miss him and his persona. I have spent some of my best moments as India's bowling coach with Virat Kohli as captain," Arun said.
Arun also shared Kohli’s approach to practice matches. He revealed that Kohli never enjoyed practice games as he felt they lacked intensity. Arun added that Kohli thrived on challenges.
"He never liked practice matches," Arun recalled.
"He always felt the intensity was somehow missing and never really enjoyed practice games. Instead, he would want to spend more time at the nets and would always choose the spiciest wicket and get bowlers to bowl at him from 16 yards — or take throw downs from 16 yards.The fact is — he always needed a challenge. That's what got him going," he added.
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