The arrival of Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli in Australia has created a media frenzy, with several leading Australian newspapers dedicating their front pages to the former Indian captain.
The top order batsman, who landed in Perth on Sunday ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, was greeted with headlines in Hindi and Punjabi, a rare and notable gesture by the Australian media, reported The Times of India.
The front page of The Daily Telegraph featured a bold headline in Hindi: “Yugon ki ladai” (Fight for the ages), celebrating Kohli’s arrival and the upcoming cricketing showdown.
Another section of the newspaper highlighted young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal with the Punjabi headline “Navam Raja” (The new king).
Kohli, who remains a central figure in Indian cricket despite stepping down from the captaincy three years ago, continues to captivate fans and media alike.
His presence in Australia has reignited excitement for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to begin on Nov 22 in Perth.
The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, will face Australia in a five-match Test series, with matches scheduled in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Kohli’s arrival marks the beginning of intense preparations for the series, as the team looks to acclimatise to Australian conditions, reported India Today.
The use of Hindi and Punjabi fonts by Australian newspapers has been widely appreciated by Indian fans, who have shared images of the front pages on social media, further amplifying the excitement surrounding the series.
While Kohli always displays an aggressive brand of cricket on the field, he has had a bittersweet relationship with the Australian media. Since his first Australian tour in 2011-2012, he has always faced criticism from the Australian media for his blunt statements.
At 36, Kohli faces not only a talented Australian side but also the challenge of overcoming recent form issues. His home-season series against New Zealand ended with a 0-3 whitewash and marked his lowest batting average at home in seven years.
Scoring just 93 runs at an average of 15.50, Kohli’s performance drew widespread criticism, adding a layer of pressure as he heads into the Border-Gavaskar series.
