Don’t want ‘confident’ Virat Kohli for rest of series vs Australia: Allan Border-OxBig News Network

Former Australian captain Allan Border has called out Australia’s failure to contain Virat Kohli during the first Test in Perth, warning that the star Indian batter’s resurgence could jeopardise the Pat Cummins-led side’s chances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Kohli, who had gone 18 months without a Test century, silenced his critics with an unbeaten 100 in the second innings, helping India clinch a commanding 295-run victory.

Border criticised Australian captain Pat Cummins for field placements and tactics, arguing they allowed Kohli to regain his confidence far too easily. “I was really disappointed in the way we let Kohli roll on to a hundred without much resistance,” Border told SEN radio on Friday morning. “We don’t want this guy full of confidence for the rest of the series.”

Border’s concerns were echoed by Matthew Hayden and Mark Taylor, who criticised Cummins for failing to apply early pressure on Kohli. Former Australian batters pointed out that the lack of close-in fielders allowed Kohli to settle in easily and regain his form.

“They missed a few tricks with Virat Kohli in the early part of his innings. Nathan Lyon had mid-on back, one on the off-side catching and a mid-wicket. I felt like it was so easy for him to get off strike,” Hayden had told Channel 7 after India’s win.

“You can’t cut a sucker an even break when a bloke is under pressure as he was. The field we actually finished with – two slips, no point, a man straight – it offered up the outside edge of his bat as well. He found it a little more frustrating. When he got the bit between the teeth, it was too late.

Hayden also highlighted missed opportunities during India’s earlier batting partnerships, particularly with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who looked susceptible to short-pitched deliveries. He criticized the delayed use of such strategies and pointed to Australia’s “shell-shocked” approach following their subpar batting performance in the first innings.

“Jaiswal looked vulnerable against it. Maybe tiny things with Pat Cummins, the ability to think through these decisions. They were shell-shocked from the average batting performance (in the first innings) and as we see now, again, bombs are going,” he said.

Kohli’s century, his seventh on Australian soil, has reignited the debate about his dominance in challenging conditions. His knock not only helped India take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series but also served as a warning to the hosts about the potential damage he can inflict when in form.

As the series progresses, Australia faces the daunting task of not only addressing their tactical lapses but also finding a way to unsettle Kohli before he cements his dominance further. Border’s comments underline the urgency of the challenge: “If Kohli keeps playing like this, it could be a long, tough series for us.”

The second Test is set to begin next week, with all eyes on Cummins and the Australian team to see how they respond to their early setbacks.

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