Former Australia cricketer Kerry O’Keeffe wants Pat Cummins and co to go hard on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting from November 22 at Perth.

“They have the psyche that might turn that around, but Australia will go hard at them,” O’Keeffe told foxsports.com.au.

India captain Rohit Sharma won’t play in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test between Australia and India in Perth starting Friday as he has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India that he needed more time with his wife after the birth of their second child earlier this week.

“Rohit Sharma may miss one or two Tests, but he is the captain, and Australia always tries to torpedo the visiting captain. It’s been a tactic they’ve used forever, and I think they’ll go very hard at Rohit Sharma,” he said.

O’Keeffe says he is eager to see how Kohli will play in the upcoming series.

Virat Kohli averages 54.08 from 13 Tests in Australia – where he’s also scored six centuries and four fifties, he’s averaging just 31.69 since 2020 overall and has notched just two tons in that period from 60 innings.

“And Kohli, who has worried them over the years, what a stunning player he’s been, but in sport, if you sense that the King of the jungle is slightly weaker, you poke a bit of cheek at him.

“I’m fascinated to see what Virat Kohli ends up with at the end of the summer. It could be the decisive point in the whole summer. If he has an absolutely blazing series, India could win.”