Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja recently shared his thoughts on Indian star Virat Kohli’s on-field demeanor ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Khawaja noted that Kohli once known for his aggressive and fiery behavior now appears more composed during matches.
Earlier in his career Kohli made headlines for his confrontational attitude especially during matches against Australia. A memorable incident was during the 2012 series in Sydney where Kohli’s rude gesture toward the crowd drew widespread attention.
When he captained India in the 2014-15 series Kohli engaged in sledging with players like David Warner and Mitchell Johnson but also showcased remarkable form, scoring 692 runs in four Tests at an average of 86.50 including four centuries.
Khawaja highlighted that Kohli’s passion for cricket remains strong, but he has become more relaxed and approachable while still being a tough competitor.
“It’s a very different Virat now, so you can go and have a joke with him … (but) he still scores runs against you,” Khawaja told.
Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey reflected on the lack of tension during the 2023 Border Gavaskar series. He stated that players avoided provoking each other and Kohli stayed focused on his performance. Carey credited the IPL for fostering camaraderie between players.
“Playing them in India … there was nothing. Get under his skin and he didn’t try to get under ours. He just performed well with the bat,” Carey said.
The upcoming Border-Gavaskar series kicks off on November 22 at Optus Stadium in Perth. Australia aims to break a decade-long streak without a series win while India seeks a third consecutive victory in Australia.
Despite recent struggles including an average of just 15.50 in a 0-3 home loss to New Zealand, Kohli has historically excelled in Australia.
He has scored 1,329 runs at an average of over 54 in 13 Tests there including six centuries—the most he has scored outside India. Notably Kohli became the first Indian captain to lead his team to a Test series win in Australia.
