‘Virat Kohli does not need us, We need him’: Jasprit Bumrah 

The team needs the batter’s backing more than he needs the team, according to India captain Jasprit Bumrah, who led a spectacular comeback in Perth during the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

“Obviously, I have already said that Virat Kohli does not need us, We need him. He is an experienced player. This is his fourth or fifth tour. So, he knows his cricket more than anyone else. He was in good shape. He was mentally switched on. Sometimes, as long as the career is, sometimes you bat in tough scenarios. He has always been batting in tough scenarios. So, it is always difficult to do in every match. But he was batting in a very good form and in a very good space,” bumrah said in the post-match press meet.

“And obviously, he got a good delivery in the first inning. But he was still in a great space. And in the second inning, he capitalized. He needed a lot of experience at that time. So, he played with him and also made the other player play with him. So, we are very happy for that. And obviously, at the start of the series, when he comes in confidence, you can’t ask for more than this,” he added.

An important factor in India’s victory over Australia in the first Test was Kohli’s iconic knockdown to record his 30th Test century. Kohli broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of six Test hundreds in Australia, which is now the highest by an Indian, with his effort in the second innings at the Optus Stadium.