Australia have executed their plans against Virat Kohli very well: Michael Clarke

Virat Kohli scored a fluent century in the second innings of the first Test against Australia in Perth but apart from that knock, the former Indian captain has failed to live up to his potential in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He has scored just 167 runs from seven innings at a meagre average of 27.83. Virat's biggest problem has been the deliveries outside the off-stump as he has failed to leave those deliveries and all his dismissals have seen him edging to the fielders behind the stumps.

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke lauded Pat Cummins and Co. for their disciplined planning and execution against the right-handed batter.

"I think Australia bowled well with a disciplined plan, and they have executed it. I think Virat's the type of player, though, in any format, he really thrives on with bat on ball, and that gives him confidence. He wants to hit the ball. He's never been a big leaver, and there's always been that error outside off stump that a lot of teams have targeted, because he's such a good player," said Clarke on ESPN's Around The Wicket show.

"You get too straight, and he scores runs for fun on that leg side. So the Aussies have executed very well. Virat's found it hard not to push at that delivery. I think there's been different forms of nicking outside off - sometimes back foot, sometimes front foot. I think Starc provides a great weapon, that left arm across, and I think Pat Cummins has used him very well. But Virat will be disappointed," he added.

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He's trying to put his own back against the wall: Aaron Finch

Kohli shoulder-bumped Sam Konstas on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test and subsequently received a 20 per cent fine on his match fee and one demerit point. Former Australian white-ball skipper Aaron Finch feels that Kohli is intentionally getting into fights as he knows that he plays his best cricket when someone from the opposition is coming at him.

"I think Virat's always someone who's thrived on pressure, and he's thrived when his back's against the wall and it just feels at this stage he's trying to put his own back against the wall. He's trying to be antagonistic. He's trying to almost trying to pick a fight because that's when he plays at his best, when he feels that someone's coming at him," Finch said.

"That's when he puts all his skill on show. Just feels like he's almost pushing other people to make him feel like that. And we haven't seen the best of him yet in this series. But like Pup said, he looked beautiful in that first innings in Melbourne, and looked like he wasn't going to get out. But Australia bowled well," he added.

Australia have a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The final Test match gets underway on Friday, January 3, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India will have to win the match to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and keep their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final alive.