Virat Kohli has been battling poor form throughout the year, and averages only 25 in the 9 matches he has played in 2024.
The time might just be running out for Virat Kohli— the Test batter. In the ongoing IND vs AUS Test series, the 36-year-old Virat Kohli has largely failed, except for that majestic ton in Perth. In the Brisbane Test too, Virat Kohli succumbed to his weakness outside off, that is leading to his downfall. This year, in the first innings’ of a Test, he only averages only 9, which is poor by every standard.
Virat Kohli has a kryptonite, and it’s the balls outside off-stump. All his dismissals in the four innings thus far of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have come edging the ball pitched on either fourth or fifth stump. Why Kohli continues to poke at them, only he knows, but truth be told, time is running out. Even the great Virat Kohli can’t figure out how to deal with it. At 36, more than fitness, of which Kohli is the ultimate king, reflexes and muscle memories play a more vital role.
Virat Kohli’s current form a space for criticism and concern amongst the cricketing world
Since the start of 2020, Virat Kohli has scored 1961 runs in 64 innings at 32.14, with only three centuries and nine fifties. Among the Fab Four, Virat Kohli ranks the lowest in terms of average, with Kane Williamson leading the overall chart of cricketers who have at least batted in 25 innings since 2020. Moreover, among all the players who batted for India in the top 7 during this period, Virat Kohli finds his name only ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, both of whom were dropped in 2023 following a lean run of form.
The 36-year-old Virat Kohli’s Test average has plunged to an eight-year low of 47.72. In 2024, Virat Kohli averages 26.64 after 16 innings, his lowest for any calendar year where he has appeared in at least 10 innings. He has only aggregated three Test hundreds since 2020. The former India captain fell for scores of 7 and 11 in Adelaide, caught behind on both occasions.
Virat Kohli faced a lot of criticism in the lead-up to the tour of Australia, following a lean run of form, including the performance against New Zealand at home, Australia great Ricky Ponting had pointed out that the 36-year-old scored only two centuries in the last five years, as he questioned if any other top-order batter would have survived a similar run in international cricket.
Virat Kohli has scored 126 runs in five innings in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He began the series with five in the first innings in Perth and followed it up with an unbeaten 100 in the second innings. The 36-year-old was dismissed for seven and 11 in Adelaide and managed only three in the first innings of The Gabba Test. The latest instance also saw him being dismissed while chasing a ball outside off stump.
The Indian maestro showcased his brilliance with a century in the second innings at Perth but faltered in the subsequent three innings, repeatedly falling to the same error—chasing deliveries outside the off-stump and getting caught behind. Ravi Shastri noted that while Williamson and Root have enjoyed a stellar run in 2024, with six and four Test centuries respectively, Virat Kohli and Smith have managed just one each, both in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Root is leading the scoring charts amongst the Fab Four this year with 1556 runs in 17 Tests at an average of 55.57. Meanwhile, Kane Williamson has the best test average – 59.58 among the four superstars, scoring 1013 runs. Steve Smith is at the bottom and scored just 337 runs but still has a better average (28.08) than Kohli, who has managed only 25.06 at an average of 25.06.
Shastri believes this inconsistency, coupled with competition from emerging players like Harry Brook, has momentarily pushed Kohli and Smith down the Fab Four hierarchy. Former Indian opener now commentator Aakash Chopra has slammed Virat Kohli and raised concern over his form.
Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli’s record in last 4 years comparing him to Rohit Sharma
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Virat Kohli once again fell prey to a delivery outside the off-stump in India’s first innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 fifth Test. He highlighted that the ace Indian batter has been retained in the XI despite having an inferior record than Rohit Sharma in the last four years.
Kohli scored 17 runs off 69 deliveries as India were bowled out for 185 on Day 1 (Friday, January 3) of the final Test against Australia in Sydney. The hosts ended the day at 9/1 in their first innings, with Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Usman Khawaja off the final delivery.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, the cricketer-turned-commentator reflected on India’s batting collapse. As for Kohli continuing his lean run, he said :
“Virat Kohli again got out outside off. It’s been an entire series. You might say that I should talk more about (Shubman) Gill but he didn’t play the first and fourth Tests. He has played two or three knocks and there also he looked decent. Yashasvi Jaiswal was wow in the last Test match and (KL) Rahul has had a decent series.”
“There are a lot of expectations from Virat Kohli. He has scored a hundred for sure but he hasn’t scored the runs after that. He is with the bowlers if you see the first-innings average in 2024. Rohit Sharma has made himself sit out. Of course, his form has gone drastically but if you see the last four years, Rohit Sharma has actually fared a little better,” Chopra added.
Virat Kohli has aggregated 1906 runs at an average of 32.30 in 36 Tests since the beginning of 2021. Rohit Sharma has scored 2160 runs at a better average of 36.00 in 35 Tests in the same period. Team India’s ace batter Virat Kohli had another disappointing outing in the second innings of the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Virat Kohli perished early again while poking at an outside off-stump delivery from Scott Boland to the slip fielders in the Test match.
The Jasprit Bumrah-led team bowled out Australia for 181 in the first innings on Saturday, January 4. Debutant Beau Webster scored his maiden Test half-century to rescue the home team. The visitors started their second innings on a positive note but lost quick wickets, allowing Australia to come back.