Former Australian batsman Joe Burns recalled his oral exchange with Star Team India Batter Virat Kohli during his Test debut at the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Burns said that he tried to inspire Kohli to play the shot during Nathan Leone’s bowling, but admitted that the move retreated much.
Australia took a 2–0 lead before the third Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The hosts posted a huge 530 runs, highlighted by Steve Smith’s 192. India was 108/2 when Virat Kohli came to the crease. Kohli, who was in a red-hot form, scored 169 runs in six hours, disappointing the Australian bowlers.
I told him, Virat Kohli, you got to play some shots – which Burns
Joe Burns made his Test debut as a replacement of the injured Michael Clarke, but managed to score only 13 runs. Talking with the CricTracker, Burns said he tried to destabilize Virat Kohli, but did not work.
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Burns said, “In my first game, the first Test match in MCG on Boxing Day, I was 24 years old. And the first game, I was fielding on the bat pad. And I am sure Virat made 100 that day. But a little was going on.”
“Not sledging, just obviously we get headzee behind the stumps, and Wato was on the first slip. Nathan Lyon was bowling, so I am close. I think it was four hours. I didn’t even say a word. I think I said a line. I think I said, you said to play some shots,” he said.
Went to me and said, ‘You don’t talk, crooks’ – which Burns
Joe Burns said that Virat Kohli responded with a shot, saying that it embarrassed him. Burns admitted that he kept quiet for the next four days, saying that there was no one to challenge Kohli.
“He stopped the bowler, stopped Nathan Leone, turned to me and said, ‘You don’t talk, crooks’. Facing the next ball, it was given a smack through the cover. It was very embarrassing for me,” Burns continued.
“I did not say a word after the next four days, but it was shown to me that Virat was not to play with anyone. And I think as a 24 -year -old debutant in the bat pad, it was not really to say anything for the person or Virat at that place.”
Virat Kohli does not take a backward step – which Burns
Joe Burns said that Virat Kohli, who retired from Test cricket in May in May, left a permanent impact on the team’s game style, with 9,230 runs and 30 centuries in 123 matches. Burns said that Kohli was inspired by contacting her with her eye on the field.
“Virat Kohli does not take a backward step. He has actually shaped the identity of that team. Even now, when he is not in the team, you can see that India still plays in the mold of those who had made for years. He was always a fierce contestant. Personally, I did not try to see him on the field because I thought he felt that he was inspired.”
Kohli last played a competitive match in IPL 2025. He played an important role in the first title of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The 36 -year -old batsman will play for India during the three -match ODI series against Australia in October.
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