“It’s almost like he has got a spell on him” - Australian legend’s scathing attack on Virat Kohli after failure in BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Mark Waugh has been stunned after another routine Virat Kohli dismissal on Day 2 of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The former Australian opener believes Scott Boland is mesmerizing the right-hander to keep following the ball outside off-stump.

The 36-year-old fell while nicking one behind for the eighth time in the series and on the fourth occasion by Scott Boland in Sydney.

The dismissal occurred in the 14th over of the innings as the Victorian delivered a length ball on off-stump that generated extra bounce. The former skipper fended at it and nicked the ball to Steve Smith at second slip.

Speaking on air, Waugh said, as quoted by Fox Cricket, after Kohli's dismissal for six runs:

"It is almost like he has got a spell on him. He is mesmerizing him. He is mesmerizing that bat to follow the ball and that could well be the last time that we see Virat Kohli on Australian soil and in Test match cricket."

The Delhi-born cricketer only had one score of note in the series when he notched his 30th Test ton in the series-opener in Perth. His series aggregate has turned out to be 190 runs in five Tests at 23.75.

"He’s never an easy wicket" - Andrew McDonald on Virat Kohli

Andrew McDonald. (Image Credits: Getty)

Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged that the execution from the players has been spot on against Kohli and cited Boland's unrelenting accuracy as the reason. He said in the post-day presser:

"It’s never easy to get Virat out. I’d give full credit to the bowlers and the execution of the plan. It’s one thing to have a plan, but then to be able to execute that the way that we have to Virat put him under immense pressure.

"And look, he’s tried some things. He’s walked out of his crease. He’s tried different tactics as well. But clearly that relentless nature of, in particular, Scotty Boland in that matchup has been incredibly difficult for him to come bat, but he’s never an easy wicket, no."

Nevertheless, Australia are marginally behind in the Test in Sydney as India holds a 145-run lead heading into Day 3.