Virat Kohli will play the faux villain – Geoff Lawson’s interesting take on former India captain

As India gears up for their upcoming tour to Australia, all eyes will definitely be on Virat Kohli. Even though the squad is still to be announced, it goes without saying that Virat will be a vital cog in the Indian cricket team Down Under with five Tests to be played in the series.

Kohli has been absolutely brilliant in Australia with numbers backing his cause. If selected, this will be his fifth Australia tour, a rare feat for any cricketer. In the wake of all the speculations running wild, former Australian fast bowler, Geoff Lawson called Kohli a ‘faux villain’, underscoring his overall brilliance.

Speaking to Mid-day, Lawson said, “Virat Kohli will play the faux villain to Jasprit Bumrah's likeable nature. Bumrah has the fast bowlers privilege of [spending] half a life at fine leg which gives him the ideal chance to interact with the crowd, winning smiles and hearts while Kohli will lurk in the infield appealing vociferously, fielding magnificently and engaging verbally with any Australian player so inclined to conversation, and there will be one or two of those.”

He further added, “Aussie crowds love a competitor like Kohli, they may give him some grief if he plays the antagonist but you can guarantee that if he makes 50s and 100s he will be loudly applauded by the fans. He has shown a liking for Australian conditions ever since his first tour 13 years ago. Bounce and pace suited his two-footed game but the question in 2024 is whether he still has the razor sharpness to best Australia’s attack on their home surfaces. I wouldn't count him out.”

This year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy will have five Test matches starting from 22nd November. The series will continue for a month and a half as the final match of the fray will conclude on January 7th if it goes on for five days.