"If He Gets Runs...": Ex-Australia Captain Michael Clarke's Prediction For Virat Kohli In BGT

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke on Tuesday backed star India batter Virat Kohli to come good Down Under, pointing out his fine record in the country and adding that all the media hype and build-up around him will "pump him up" to score. After a horrid home Test season against Bangladesh and New Zealand and underwhelming Test numbers over the years, Virat will be making his fifth Test series tour of Australia under the toughest of circumstances, with his long-format legacy and spot on the line as India awaits a transition following ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

Speaking to Revsportz, Clarke said that Virat still has the game and would be hungry knowing the conditions suit him well. He also said that if the batter gets runs in the first game, he will score well all series.

"Virat Kohli has had a lot of success in Australia - six hundreds in 13 Test matches, if I remember right. He still has the game. He will be hungry and he will know the conditions will suit him. I am very sure he will score the maximum runs for India if they are to win or do well in this series. As an Australian, I would want Australia to keep him quiet. If he gets runs in the first game, he will get runs all series and will make it count. He loves the fight, mate, and loves getting into the action. See the build-up around him. All of this will pump him up for sure," he said.

This year in 19 matches across international formats, Virat has just scored 488 runs at a shockingly low average of 20.33, with just two half-centuries in 25 innings and best score of 76.

It is his downfall in Tests that has been more shocking and saddening as the numbers do not fit someone of his superstardom and skill. His form from 2016-2019 is among the