Matthew Hayden wants Virat Kohli to start fresh against Australia, says the batter has a lot to play for in Border-Gavaskar series

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden wants to see Virat Kohli start fresh against Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. Kohli could not deliver the goods in the three-match Test series against New Zealand as he could only manage 93 runs at an average of 15.50.

However, Kohli has scored 2042 runs in 25 Test matches against Australia at an average of 47.48, including eight centuries. Kohli has even better numbers while playing in Australia as he has scored 1352 runs in 13 Test matches at an impressive average of 54.08, including six centuries.

But Hayden said Kohli’s previous performances are in the past and he needs to start from scratch against a high-quality pace attack. Hayden said the talismanic batter has a lot to play for in Australia as he is under the pump.

Matthew Hayden said in a media interaction hosted by Cricket Australia, “There is lots for Virat to play for… Unfortunately, he can’t carry his immense performances from any season into this one because it’s a different one. It’s a new one. Now he starts with his average of zero and an aggregate of zero.”

“We all know that he’s capable of averaging beyond 50, and he’s the most unsound for his country in the past, second beyond Sachin Tendalkar, but gee, it’s up to him…I wish him all the best because in Australia, we want to see Virat Kohli against arguably the best attack that Australian cricket has had in the history of the game,” he added.

Hayden noted Kohli has not only made a positive influence with the bat but he has also inspired the team with his leadership and fitness.

“Naturally, there’s got to be that hunger which Virat always brings to any kind of contest and there’s none bigger throughout the course of Test match cricket history. He’s on a side that’s dominated Australia in their own backyard now for almost a decade and that’s an important factor in a place where he’s worked really hard. A lot of his influence on the game can be seen not just with bat in hand but also the belief in the contest, the belief in his own fitness levels,” Hayden said in the same interaction.

The opening Test match between India and Australia will be played at Perth from November 22 onwards.