With Virat Kohli set to return from Australia after the first of four tests, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis acknowledges that the Indian captain will be “110 per cent motivated” while there. India plays Australia in three ODIs and three T20Is, before beginning their defense of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they retained with a 2-1 win in 2018/19.
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In the seven matches he will play, Stoinis, who supports Kohli’s decision to return to his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of the couple’s first child, hopes the India captain will start running.
“Don’t worry about Virat, he’s ready for all the games he’s playing. Yes, maybe there is an extra motivation, but I don’t think there is more motivation than 110%. So let’s see. I’m sure you’ll be ready to go. He is coming home for the birth of his son, which is the right decision in my opinion. So I’m sure he will be more motivated, ”Stoinis said during a press interaction.
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Stoinis is heading into the limited overs series with a good 2020 IPL, where he scored 352 runs and took 13 wickets, playing a crucial role in Delhi Capitals’ journey to the final. The off-roader hopes Australia can get Kohli without the India captain causing much damage. Kohli turned a century old the last time India played an ODI series in Australia, helping the team to a 2-1 win and Stoinis hopes his team can prevent something similar from happening.
“We definitely have our strategies, we have had things that have worked in the past, and other times the same plans have not worked and he has done some races. He’s obviously a great player, and for all these good players, you do what you want to do, you have your plans, and on the day, you become more competitive and you hope that everything falls on your side of the court ”. Stoinis explained.
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