Australian middle-order batter Marnus Labuschagne recalled his first meeting with star India batter Virat Kohli who turned 36 on November 5.
Kohli has been known for his aggression on the cricket field both as a player as well as a captain. The cricketer, however, has become more calm with age.
As India and Australia are all set to square off for a five-match Test series in Australia later this month, Labuschagne talked about meeting the former Indian skipper way back in 2018.
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What did Marnus Labuschagne say on his first meeting with Virat Kohli?
Marnus Labuschagne faced the phenomenal Virat Kohli for the first time in India's tour of Australia in the 2018/19 season. Kohli was the skipper of the visiting side on that tour.
Recalling the meeting, the Australian batter told Star Sports, "My first memory of Virat was probably, from a playing perspective, the 2018 series. He was captain at that time, I think, and he was quite intense. When I watched the series, it was a very intense series."
Labuschagne, however, also added that the 2018 series was the last time that he saw Kohli display such aggression on the field. He added, "I probably haven’t seen that same Virat since then, you know, the start of that series. For a long time, he’s just been a quality act, but my first memory would be that."
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What is Marnus Labuschagne's record in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 17 | 708 | 47.20 | 45.58 | 3 | 1 | 108 |
What is Virat Kohli's record in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 42 | 1979 | 48.26 | 52.25 | 5 | 8 | 186 |
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Full schedule of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25
| Test | Date | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | November 22 - November 26, 2024 | 08:00 AM | Perth |
| 2nd Test | December 06 - December 10, 2024 | 09:30 AM | Adelaide |
| 3rd Test | December 14 - December 18, 2024 | 05:30 AM | Brisbane |
| 4th Test | December 26 - December 30, 2024 | 05:30 AM | Melbourne |
| 5th Test | January 03 - January 07, 2025 | 05:30 AM | Sydney |
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