"The silliest thing you can do is to write off champion players" - Michael Hussey backs Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to bounce back in 2024-25 BGT

Former Australian batter Michael Hussey backed the out-of-form duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to bounce back in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under. India and Australia will play a highly anticipated five-Test series, starting on November 22 in Perth.

Among the several narratives in the build-up to the series, Kohli and Rohit's woeful recent Test form has taken center stage. The duo were a major reason for India suffering an embarrassing 0-3 home Test series whitewash to New Zealand. Both batters averaged under 16 with a combined two half-centuries in 12 innings.

It led to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting criticizing Kohli in particular by saying no batter with only two Test centuries in five years would have lasted in the side. India's head coach Gautam Gambhir responded by slamming Ponting and saying he has nothing to do with Indian cricket.

Reacting to the same, Hussey told Fox Cricket:

"We will find out in the first Test match where they are at, mentally and from a skill perspective as well. They will be hurt by this, India. They have got a lot of crowd pullers and quality. We just heard from Gambhir talking about Rohit and Kohli not making runs. The silliest thing you can do is to write off champion players."

He added:

"We have seen it so many times in the past - they come under criticism, but they come out and perform really well. So I'm backing them to perform well in Australia. They are proud Indians and proud Test players. But I still feel Australia will start favorites."

India has beaten Australia in the previous four bilateral Test series, including two in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

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A look at Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's Test record in Australia

Kohli has enjoyed tremendous success in Australia [Credit: Getty]

Despite similarly poor recent Test form, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's overall Test numbers in Australia are vastly different.

The former has enjoyed the Australian conditions like very few ever have, scoring 1,352 runs at an outstanding average of 54.08. Kohli also boasts six Test centuries down under and was the first Indian captain to taste a Test series victory in Australia.

Meanwhile, Rohit has struggled to cope with the Australian conditions, averaging a sub-par 31.38 in seven Tests down under. The 37-year-old is yet to score a Test century in Australia and has only three half-centuries in 14 innings.