I want to see how Virat Kohli handles Australian pressure, says Glenn McGrath

07/10/2018

Glenn McGrath has asked the Australian players to put pressure on Virat Kohli when India visit Australia later this year as he thinks that could help the hosts get the better of India. Bowler Pat Cummins, on the other hand, sounded extremely confident that the skipper won’t get a century down under.

This year is definitely going to be a Test by fire for India as they visit Australia later this year after completing the ongoing England tour, which would only intensify as it continues. And the Kangaroos have already started their mind games with the series still five months away.

Kohli would undoubtedly be the biggest threat for the hosts when India visit them especially after his heroics in South Africa where the skipper score a whopping 871 runs in 11 matches across formats at an average of 79.18. In Australia, Kohli averages 62 in Tests and the last time India toured there, Kohli had smashed four centuries, ending the tour with 692 runs at an average of 86.50. Stopping him would pretty much stop India and an experienced McGrath has realized it early.

"India's batting line-up is their strength, led by Kohli ... I want to see the Australians put pressure on Kohli and see how he handles it. It is going to be good, hard, tough series. Kohli has got bit of an aggressive attitude but showed last time he was out there he was not going to take a backward step,” said McGrath, quoted Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Windies of the late 70s, early 80s were an incredible team and they used to target the captain of the opposition team and get on top of him and have big impact. I tried to bring that in by targeting players when I played. If you get on top of them, the No. 1 player and their captain, it makes the job so much easier. If they can get on top of Kohli I think it can have big impact on the game,” McGrath added.

Apart from the legendary bowler, Australian pacer Pat Cummins sounded all fired up for the series and was confident that India wouldn’t win with Kohli returning home unsuccessful.

“My brave, bold prediction… I’d say is I think Virat Kohli is not going to get a hundred and we’re going to knock them off over here,” said Cummins.