'Finch's Strange Theory: Virat Kohli's Antagonistic Behavior Aimed at Regaining Rhythm'

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch has stirred up controversy by suggesting that Virat Kohli is deliberately trying to provoke his opponents in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli, who has been struggling with his form since the Perth Test, has been repeatedly getting out in a similar fashion by edging the ball outside off-stump to the wicketkeeper and slip cordon. Finch's comments have added fuel to the fire surrounding Kohli's recent performances, raising questions about the Indian captain's mindset and approach to the game.

Kohli’s decline in red-ball cricket was even more glaring. The batting maestro could muster only 417 runs in 2024, averaging a mere 24.52. His persistent vulnerability outside the off-stump – frequently edging deliveries to the slip cordon or wicketkeeper – proved to be his undoing, especially during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Finch, who has played Kohli at RCB in the past, said that the 36-year-old is trying to pick a fight to get the best out of himself.

"Virat's someone who's always thrived on pressure and he's thrived when his back is against the wall. It just feels like at this stage, he is trying to put his own back against the wall. He's trying to be antagonistic, he's trying to almost pick a fight because that's when he plays when he feels like someone's coming at him. That's when he puts all his skills on show," Finch said on Around the Wicket Podcast.

‘Virat Kohli is pushing other people to make…’

Kohli had an on-field tussle with Sam Konstas on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test. The two bumped shoulders and exchanged a few words in the first session’s play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The senior Indian batter was fined 20 per cent match fees for his actions on the field.

The former Australia skipper said that Kohli has not been at his best in the series but he also admitted that he did look solid in the first innings at MCG but the Aussie bowlers did well to get the better of him.

"It just feels like he's pushing other people to make him feel like that and we've not seen the best of him in this series yet. He looked beautiful in the first innings at Melbourne and looked like he wasn't going to get out but Australia have bowled well," he added.

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