Are Australians scared of Virat Kohli this time?

[BaankeJi]

If you look at any media reports there will be one or more statements from former Australian cricketers. Some will say - do not provoke him (Dean Jones), some will say rattle him (Ponting), some will just analyse how Kohli can be stopped.

Earlier, We wouldn't see such reaction from Aussie team. There will be provocative statements like they fancy their chances against best batsmen of the team or there will be nothing.

Seeing these many statements coming out makes me think Australians are rattled. This is something I find surprising. Australians are not known for this.

What do you think?

 

[Mamba Red]

We are not scared, he is an elite player but one guy can't do everything, India has plenty of duds for us to take advantage of.

 

[Darkrai]

This is happening because Aus are missing their best batsmen. If Smith was not banned you wouldn't be hearing any of this.

 

[Itachi]

I think someone will outshine Kohli this time around.

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Embarrassing thread. This not a WAR and, Kohli is not a King to be scared.

Yes, they'll be looking to take his wicket early, as he's a world class player.

 

[Kashmirilion]

Embarrassing thread. This not a WAR and, Kohli is not a King to be scared.

Yes, they'll be looking to take his wicket early, as he's a world class player.

Contrary to your username

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Contrary to your username

There is a huge difference between a King of a Kingdom and the tag, King of Chase.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Kohli is the difference between India having a chance to pull off the unthinkable and getting completely annihilated in Australia. If there is a player that one can be scared of, it's Kohli.

 

[BaankeJi]

Embarrassing thread. This not a WAR and, Kohli is not a King to be scared.

Yes, they'll be looking to take his wicket early, as he's a world class player.

Of course it is not a war. But I surely see a difference in Australian statements this time.
Rest assured, nobody will take sword or any other weapon to the cricket field.

 

[Sam99]

This is happening because Aus are missing their best batsmen. If Smith was not banned you wouldn't be hearing any of this.

This. If smith wasn't banned then Aussies wouldn't have cared about virat scoring runs but now they don't have any big name to score and that's why they want to stop virat from scoring as well.

 

[PakLFC]

No way. Aussies will make easy work of him on their own grounds.

 

[Aman]

If Smith was playing it would be nothing. He'd outscore Kohli.

 

[Ab Fan]

Should be a great series without any shadow of doubt.

 

[Suleiman]

Thing is he rises to the challenge. So many articles talking about Kohli factor, Aussies saying they've figured him out. The on the field sledging as well, all these things spur this man even more and he becomes even more ruthless with the bat.

Most batsmen when put under the microscope or get targeted specifically by the other team usually crumble under expectation and pressure. This guy lives for it. Don't think any other player like that plays or has played for India, let alone the world.

 

[Robert]

I only knew of two players the Aussies were scared of. One was Botham, the other Ambrose.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Kohli is the difference between India having a chance to pull off the unthinkable and getting completely annihilated in Australia. If there is a player that one can be scared of, it's Kohli.

If Kohli is the only difference then what are other superstars going to do there?

 

[JibranAnsari]

It will be a contest between thw bowling sides , does India bowling have in it to win them a series this time?

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Of course it is not a war. But I surely see a difference in Australian statements this time.
Rest assured, nobody will take sword or any other weapon to the cricket field.

Then, why will they be scared? Yes, they'll see him as a huge block to their win.

 

[austerlitz]

The one they should be afraid of is bumrah.

 

[ind_win]

This buzz about kohli is equivalent to what sachin had before 1999 aus tour.
He was at his prime, not bothered by any physical issues but was weakened by a poor team of 3-4 passengers.
Sachin was not the same player after 2004.
Kohli seems to have focused on fitness and a strict regimen.
That MRF ad, though it is some kind of promotion, where he hits so many balls one-handed into all the tyres with such precision shows though he may not be GOAT he is definitely one to bother about, for the opposition teams, all the time till he plays.
That is because he focuses on his poor areas all the time.

 

[cricketindiafan]

They are drawing from their experience of 2017 India tour. Attacked him verbally, in and outside the field, in press conferences and Kohli had his worst series - 46 runs in 5 innings. Why would Australia not target him again?

 

[Shams123]

Well they shoule be scared of him. If they are not then they are underestimatimg a huge threat.

 

[Adijazz1706]

They are drawing from their experience of 2017 India tour. Attacked him verbally, in and outside the field, in press conferences and Kohli had his worst series - 46 runs in 5 innings. Why would Australia not target him again?

Good point, that series seems to be completely overlooked. Rahane won the last Test and the series while Kohli got out in embarrassing fashion a couple of times

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">India skipper Virat Kohli in the Adelaide Oval nets today (watch with the sound on).<a href="https://twitter.com/alintaenergy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alintaenergy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/OnhH5i7xkP">pic.twitter.com/OnhH5i7xkP</a></p>— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1069875373666516993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


This could be one reason....

 

[ILcricket]

not scared but by highlighting him in every interview they are putting the pressure back on him in a sneaky underhand sort of way .

 

[Plumb]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">India skipper Virat Kohli in the Adelaide Oval nets today (watch with the sound on).<a href="https://twitter.com/alintaenergy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alintaenergy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/OnhH5i7xkP">pic.twitter.com/OnhH5i7xkP</a></p>— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1069875373666516993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


This could be one reason....

I can watch this all day.... The control, feet, hands, head and offcourse the sound of the bat

 

[GLORY OF '92]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">India skipper Virat Kohli in the Adelaide Oval nets today (watch with the sound on).<a href="https://twitter.com/alintaenergy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alintaenergy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/OnhH5i7xkP">pic.twitter.com/OnhH5i7xkP</a></p>— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1069875373666516993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


This could be one reason....

Oh boy unbelievable ability. Stunning.

 

[Asif321]

Australia C should be scared definitely

 

[Hasan123]

They shouldn’t be scared. They have the bowlers to trouble Kohli.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

It's marketing and mind games. Increase the expectations so Kohli has a lot on his mind every time he bats. However, he's capable of freeing himself up from this because he's a mental genius.

 

[rhony]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">India skipper Virat Kohli in the Adelaide Oval nets today (watch with the sound on).<a href="https://twitter.com/alintaenergy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alintaenergy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/OnhH5i7xkP">pic.twitter.com/OnhH5i7xkP</a></p>— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1069875373666516993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


This could be one reason....

Just the ease and ability, the way he got into nice positions even in nets..amazing

 

[Savak]

Kohli can't take 10 to 20 wickets and he cannot score for the other batsmen. The Australian's will really do whatever it takes to neutralize him albeit that is ofcourse easier said than done.

 

[Savak]

To be honest, whenever Kohli has really needed to perform in a really crunch game, he has flopped. He is only human after all.

 

[gazza619]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">India skipper Virat Kohli in the Adelaide Oval nets today (watch with the sound on).<a href="https://twitter.com/alintaenergy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alintaenergy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/OnhH5i7xkP">pic.twitter.com/OnhH5i7xkP</a></p>— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1069875373666516993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


This could be one reason....

Awesome. Very close to Hafeez in the nets. Watch this 30 second gem

https://youtu.be/SW8TBpCyMp8


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Joseph Gomes]

To be honest, whenever Kohli has really needed to perform in a really crunch game, he has flopped. He is only human after all.

I would rather take somebody to performs brilliantly in 4/5 matches rather than somebody who performs 2/5 matches, one of which is crunch. Kohli still wins matches whenever other players step up (Trent Bridge test). He is invaluable to India, as Tendulkar was in 90s.

 

[reversehook]

I think Aussies are scared of Aussies this time... they got lucky with Pakistan with the lineup they have, India will prob eat and chew them...

 

[BreadPakoda]

Never in my decades of watching cricket have I seen a single opposition player generate so much interest. Not even SRT.

The practice video has gone insanely viral. Ozzies are looking forward to watching Kohli more than their own players. Even the likes of Alan Donald are retweeting. Lol

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Never in my decades of watching cricket have I seen a single opposition player generate so much interest. Not even SRT.

The practice video has gone insanely viral. Ozzies are looking forward to watching Kohli more than their own players. Even the likes of Alan Donald are retweeting. Lol

I guess that's because of online marketing. Tendulkar was famous in Australia as a foreign player, but nowhere near a celebrity. Kohli is getting more coverage than team India itself.

 

[BreadPakoda]

I guess that's because of online marketing. Tendulkar was famous in Australia as a foreign player, but nowhere near a celebrity. Kohli is getting more coverage than team India itself.

Also while SRT was the greatest overseas player to set foot on Ozzie soil, Ozzies had quite a few stars of their own who collectively were as popular as him. You stack 10 Finches and Khwajas together and they will still pale in comparison to Kohli.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Also while SRT was the greatest overseas player to set foot on Ozzie soil, Ozzies had quite a few stars of their own who collectively were as popular as him. You stack 10 Finches and Khwajas together and they will still pale in comparison to Kohli.

True that. Brett Lee, Gilchrist etc were huge stars across the globe. Current Aussie players don't even hold a candle.

 

[MP2011]

Also while SRT was the greatest overseas player to set foot on Ozzie soil, Ozzies had quite a few stars of their own who collectively were as popular as him. You stack 10 Finches and Khwajas together and they will still pale in comparison to Kohli.

This!

This Australian team isn't a patch on THAT Australian team even with all their Starcs and Hazlewoods! Thats why Kohli is shining even brighter.

 

[Sarwar89]

Despite all the hype surrounding Kohli.

Unlike Lara Laxman or Inzamam

He has not won a chasing tense Test match yet on his own recently.

Scores of 208 287 194 244 were not chased in 2018 and Kohli got out on all those 4 occasions.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Despite all the hype surrounding Kohli.

Unlike Lara Laxman or Inzamam

He has not won a chasing tense Test match yet on his own recently.

Scores of 208 287 194 244 were not chased in 2018 and Kohli got out on all those 4 occasions.

Before this it was "he bats like a tailender in England". When he made his haters look stupid, its changes to "he has to win a "tense" test match chasing, that to on his own...no help from others"...lemme guess, the test match also needs to be an away one with full strengths teams and difficult wicket? lol

How do people come up with these filters? lol

 

[Tusker]

Before this it was "he bats like a tailender in England". When he made his haters look stupid, its changes to "he has to win a "tense" test match chasing, that to on his own...no help from others"...lemme guess, the test match also needs to be an away one with full strengths teams and difficult wicket? lol

How do people come up with these filters? lol

You forgot the main filter - atleast 5 inches of grass on pitch

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Before this it was "he bats like a tailender in England". When he made his haters look stupid, its changes to "he has to win a "tense" test match chasing, that to on his own...no help from others"...lemme guess, the test match also needs to be an away one with full strengths teams and difficult wicket? lol

How do people come up with these filters? lol

I respect filters, however the logic they have come up with is beyond filters, it's just being salty. Kohli averages 50+ in 4th innings of tests.

 

[BreadPakoda]

You forgot the main filter - atleast 5 inches of grass on pitch

If he still makes runs, it was obviously a flat wicket.

There's no winning.

 

[Bilal7]

As they should be. He's the current best batsman in the world, after nearly all of his main rivals have left the scene for one reason or the other. He's in fantastic form and scored a ton of runs, albeit in a series loss, last time he was in the country.

Kohli failing to help India win a couple of tests this time around would be very disappointing.

 

[Sarwar89]

I respect filters, however the logic they have come up with is beyond filters, it's just being salty. Kohli averages 50+ in 4th innings of tests.

icc champions trophy final ?
icc world cup semi final 2015 ?

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

icc champions trophy final ?
icc world cup semi final 2015 ?

Icc ct 2017 semifinals?
Icc ct 2013 finals?
Icc wc t20 2014 final
Icc wct20 2016 sf
Icc ct 2017 virtual quarterfinal vs sa?
Icc t20 wc virtual quarterfinal vs aus?
Icc ct 2013 sf.?

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Icc ct 2017 semifinals?
Icc ct 2013 finals?
Icc wc t20 2014 final
Icc wct20 2016 sf
Icc ct 2017 virtual quarterfinal vs sa?
Icc t20 wc virtual quarterfinal vs aus?
Icc ct 2013 sf.?

Now start applying filters.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

icc champions trophy final ?
icc world cup semi final 2015 ?

I was talking about tests, since above posters were talking about Kohli not being able to win tests in 4th innings.

As for ODIs, I agree.

 

[Sarwar89]

Now start applying filters.

1) against a poor bangladesh side and what matters is final.
2) Ok good one
3) sri lanka won, his innings was not decisive.
4) west indies won so again no use.
5) you are talking about same tournament, he failed in the biggest match in final.
6) same tournament, west indies won in semi finals.
7) yes good one.

 

[Mamba Red]

What a great thread, we are so scared of the minnows India we are shaking in our boots.