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Surprise Challenge Awaits Virat Kohli As Labuschagne Plays Mind Games Ahead Of BGT 2024

Anurag Dasgupta

Kohli in action Vs NZ [Source: PTI] Kohli in action Vs NZ [Source: PTI]

One of India's key Test player, Virat Kohli could be in for a surprise challenge when he tours Australia for a 5-match Test series, starting on November 22. All eyes will be on him when the Indian team begin their quest for a third successive series win, Down Under.

However, even before the series has started, the Aussie players have started playing mind-games with one of India's best batter, Kohli. Australian middle-order batter, Marnus Labuschagne believes that he can trouble Kohli wth his bouncers, especially now with his speed increased.

The right-handed batter admitted that he is practising delivering bouncers and would like to test Kohli to see if he can duck under it.

"Are you going to get the number three of Australia rolling in, bowling bouncers to Virat Kohli? People want to see that. You want to see, can you play on someone's ego. Like, 'are you going to be ducking bouncers from Marnus?" said Labuschagne jokingly in the interview, hosted by Australian YouTube creators The Grade Cricketer.

Kohli has a track record of throwing wickets to random bowlers, so, don't be surprised if Labuschagne gets his wicket in the upcoming series. The medium pacer has 13-wickets in the 50-over format, where he bowls leg-break.

Kohli's exceptional record Vs Australia

If there's one team Kohli loves to play against in Tests, then that team has to be the Australian side. He boasts exceptional record against the Aussies across formats, but has a special relation with them in the game's longest format.

In 25 matches against them, Kohli has racked up 2042 runs in 25 Tests, at an average of 47.48, including 8 centuries, with 6 of them coming, Down Under.

The former Test skipper had an all-timer on Australian shores, when he slammed 692 runs in 4 Tests in the 2014-15 tour, which included 4 centuries in a single series.