January 5, 2025: Pat Cummins, after Australia’s victory in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1, spoke warmly about Virat Kohli‘s contribution to Test cricket and the rivalry between India and Australia. Despite India losing the series and Kohli’s relatively underwhelming performance throughout the series, the Australian captain lauded the Indian batting legend for his immense value to the game.
Cummins noted that playing against Virat Kohli has always been a “wonderful contest.” He acknowledged that Kohli brings much more to the game than just runs. He said, “It is more than runs. Sometimes, it is the theatre.” This remark speaks to Kohli’s larger-than-life presence, his emotional intensity, and the energy he brings to the field, which has often added a different dimension to matches between the two teams.
The Aussie captain emphasized how much the team enjoys the competitive nature of playing against someone as skilled and passionate as Kohli. “The boys really enjoyed playing with him. I have always really enjoyed playing with him,” Cummins added. He recognized Kohli as one of the standout batters of the past decade, noting that dismissing him is a significant achievement in any Test match. “If you get his wicket, it goes a long way to winning a game,” Cummins said.
Despite Kohli’s struggles in this series, where he managed just 190 runs in nine innings (at an average of 23.75) and was dismissed multiple times by Scott Boland, Cummins highlighted that Kohli’s presence on the field was what made facing him a special challenge. He also expressed his hope that this would not be Kohli’s last series in Australia. “I would be sad if it is his last series,” he said.
In contrast to his lean performance in the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli’s career statistics in Australia have been impressive. In 18 Tests in Australia, Kohli has scored 1,542 runs at an average of 46.72, including seven centuries and four fifties. His highest score in Australia remains 169. He holds the record for the most Test centuries by an Indian in Australia and is second on the list for the most runs by an Indian batter in the country.
Despite the recent setback in the BGT 2024, Cummins’ comments show respect for Kohli’s legacy, his competitive spirit, and his unmatched contributions to the India-Australia rivalry over the years.