With R Ashwin retiring from international cricket after the third Test against Australia, the spotlight would be on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who haven’t been among the runs and are nearing the end of their careers. This is their last tour of Australia, and the two would like to finish it on a high. The series still has two Tests left, and the pitches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Sydney Cricket Ground are best for the batters.
Kohli, in particular, has had memorable outings in Australia in the past. He has been one of the most successful visiting batters in this part of the world, but the current edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has seen a similar pattern of dismissals, putting the team in trouble. He has posted 5, 100*, 7, 11 and 3 so far in the games against the Pat Cummins team.
Former Australia player Matthew Hayden had predicted the rebirth of Virat Kohli at the MCG. “It could be a rebirth for Virat Kohli and even Usman Khawaja, for that matter. The wicket at the MCG is good for the batters. The new ball would do a bit, but if you get your eyes in, it is all for the batters.
‘The curator and CEO of the MCG have been giving good wickets at the venue over the years, and I think it would continue to be in favour of the batters. Virat has a good chance of scoring runs in the fourth Test as it would suit his batting style. All he has to do is stop playing the deliveries that are pitched outside the off-stump. Sachin successfully did it against Australia long back in Sydney, and there is no reason why Virat can’t follow that template.
“‘I am hoping to see him among runs in the upcoming game,” he said.
Sunil Gavaskar is not too worried about the performance of one of the best batters of his generation.
“I am not too worried about his performance, as this can happen to any batter. Don’t forget that he was dismissed on three good deliveries. You can only question his dismissal in the third Test. He has played enough cricket to know what is needed to return to form,” he said.