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Has Virat Kohli replaced VVS Laxman as Australia's new nemesis ?

Virat Kohli notched up his fifth century on Australian soil, thanks to a fantastic unbeaten 140, on Day 3 of the Sydney test.

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Virat Kohli has been Australia's nemesis in recent years
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As India captain Virat Kohli notched up his fourth hundred of the 2014 Border-Gavaskar trophy, on Day 3 of the Sydney test, memories were brought to fore of that  wristy strokemaker of yore, VVS Laxman, who had troubled the Australians with similar pugnacity.

With Kohli raising his helmet amidst a throng of pink shirts at the SCG, who applauded his latest effort. Times have changed, India has a saviour in Virat Kohli and Aussies have a new nightmare to deal with. 

The baton has successfully been passed from Laxman to Kohli, with the former previously holding the enviable tag of 'Australian terminator', thanks to his glorious record against the perennial champions of world cricket.


The baton passes from Laxman to Kohli!


VVS Laxman tormented Australia at his peak (getty images)

 

Though Laxman's magical strokeplay had shattered Australia's bowling to bits on many occasions, still Kohli's heroics in the ongoing series has kept him in good stead to ensure that the legacy continues.

Picture this - Kohli now has five hundreds(that too in consecutive test matches)  on Australian soil, which has surpassed Laxman's previous record of four.

Agreed that though Laxman faced the likes of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee and Shane Warne at their peak, still credit cannot be taken away from Kohli, who has matched the Australia eye-for-eye, since his debut tour in 2011-12.

If Laxman ignored Australian 'mind games', and allowed his willow to do the talking, Kohli on the other hand has readily given it back with both mouth and bat, as and when the situation demanded.

In fact the Sydney test of 2011-12, where Kohli had a real go at the partisan crowd after being relentlessly heckled, highlighted the fact that India had unearthed a player who was not afraid to dole out to the Australians a taste of their medicine.

Right from his fighting knock of 116 in Adelaide, which incidentally was his first of the 2011-12 tour, to his unbeaten 140 in the ongoing Sydney test, Kohli has come a long way, as he has transformed from a brash agressive youngster, to a player who can now make the Australia quake in their boots.

 

Kohli...India's new Mr Cool?


Virat Kohli was felled by Mitchell Johnson's bouncer at Melbourne (getty images)

 

Gone are the days when Kohli lost his cool at even the slightest of provocation from Australia's in-fielders, as he has now morphed into a more mature and level-headed version of himself.

In fact the best example is that of the 2014 Melbourne test, when Kohli after being subject to a barrage of 'spoilt brat' taunts, went on and hammered Mitchell Johnson and co. all around the MCG.

Even as Kohli was earlier felled by a wayward Johnson throw, aimed at the stumps, the skipper just got up and resumed proceedings as if nothing had happened. Yes, it is another matter that Johnson was later given a spanking of his life, as a fired up Kohli ensured that the pacers' bowling figures lay in tatters, thanks to a rain of boundaries from his bat.

Another example of Kohli keeping calm amidst Australian hostility was during the first test at Adelaide, after a Johnson bouncer caught him bang on the helmet, leaving him tottering at crease.

Again, Kohli despite the blow, steadied himself and went on to score centuries in both innings, which served as a reminder that Australia had found a new nemesis, who could retaliate despite having the kitchen-sink thrown at him.

 

Surpassing records


Virat Kohli is one short of equalling Sachin Tendulkar's century haul in Australia (getty images)

 

There are times when Kohli has displayed streaks of his volatile past, as his 'send-off' to Johnson indicates, still the skipper has come a long way since that disastrous 2011-12 tour, and has allowed his bat to do the talking this time around.

Also though Kohli has a chance to equal the great Sachin Tendulkar's haul of six centuries on Australian soil (provided he scores one in the second innings at Sydney) the fact remains that the maverick batsman still needs to get a few more tons under his belt, if he is to officially become Australia's new tormentor.

With Kohli also setting a new record for most runs by an Indian batsman in an Australian test series (he has scored 639 in seven innings in the ongoing series), the stage is evenly poised for him to have a go at the Aussies, come day four of the Sydney test.

Despite juggling both captaincy and batting responsibilities, post the abrupt retirement of MS Dhoni, Kohli can count himself in the league of the great Laxman, if he does go ahead and slam the sixth ton in Sydney, thus giving the Australia a lot to ponder on.

So come day four at Sydney, Kohli can do well to roll back the clock and give Australia nightmares, in true 'Laxman style', albeit with another commanding performance with the bat.

And even the great Laxman would be left applauding if Kohli does go ahead and inspire India to victory at Sydney, thus etching his name as Australia's new nemesis! 

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