"There's a different approach that's required" - Virat Kohli opens up on his form ahead of Day 1 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Ahead of the crucial Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, ace India batter Virat Kohli has said the Australian pitches are different from the previous two tours and that a different approach is required. The 36-year-old has struggled in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, averaging under 32 in five innings.

Kohli came into the series on the back of a dismal home Test series against New Zealand, averaging under 16 in three matches. However, he seemed to have rediscovered his form with an unbeaten century in the second innings of the opening Test in Perth.

Yet, his next three innings have tallied only 21 runs at an average of 7, as the series scoreline reads 1-1 after three Tests.

Talking to Star Sports about his form before the start of play on Day 1 (Thursday, December 26) of the fourth Test, Kohli said:

"Last two or three innings hasn’t gone the way I wanted to. As I said, haven’t been disciplined enough to stick in there and, you know, really grind it out. And that’s what the challenge that Test Cricket brings. Obviously, these pitches are much more livelier than the last time that we played here. So, there’s a different approach that’s required."

He added:

"But that’s something that I’ve taken a lot of pride in to go out there and counter different conditions and step up when the team wants me to or needs me to. So, yeah, the idea is to get stuck in, as I said. Go in there, get your eyes set in, play enough number of balls that you start playing a game afterwards, but respect the conditions foremost. Team point of view, they’ll be in a good shape of mind."

Despite his string of low scores on the ongoing tour, Kohli boasts excellent numbers in Tests Down Under.

The champion batter averages 50.96 in 17 Tests in Australia with seven centuries and four half-centuries.

"To make sure that we’re not batting again under pressure was massive" - Virat Kohli on India avoiding follow-on in 3rd BGT Test

Australia v India - Men's 3rd Test Match: Day 5 - Source: Getty

Virat Kohli felt India avoiding the follow-on from a bleak situation in the third Test in Brisbane was crucial for the rest of the series.

With rain playing spoilsport for most of the game, India had to avoid the follow-on to stave off defeat after conceding 445 to Australia in their first innings. However, the visitors slipped to 213/9, requiring another 33 to avoid batting again late on Day 4.

Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep at No. 10 and 11, respectively, added a sensational 47 for the final wicket to ensure Australia batted again.

"To avoid the follow-on in Brisbane and the way the tail got stuck in. And to make sure that we’re not batting again under pressure was massive. And in the end, it ended up to be a draw when the situation was looking bleak for us. So yeah, we have really got stuck in, shown character at the right stage. And that has given us another chance to start afresh and approach this game like we approached the first one," Kohli said in the same conversation.

The Brisbane Test eventually ended in a draw, ensuring the best-of-five series remained 1-1 heading into the Boxing Day outing in Melbourne.