Former Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri has backed Virat Kohli and Steve Smith to find their form in the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Although both the players Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have scored a century in the ongoing series, they have been hit and miss across three matches. Ravi Shastri observed that the inconsistency has pushed them down the Fab Four rankings, currently led by Joe Root and Kane Williamson.
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. Acknowledging the struggles, Ravi Shastri emphasized the hunger and resilience that make players like Virat Kohli and Smith so dangerous. He pointed out that these champions thrive under pressure and often bounce back stronger when their form is questioned.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri on Virat Kohli’s batting form ahead of 4th BGT 2024-25 Test
Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that Virat Kohli is not far away from finding form in the ongoing Test series against Australia. Shastri cited Steve Smith’s example, pointing out how well he cashed in to score a hundred in Brisbane.
Smith had scores of 0, 17 and 2 leading up to the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. The right-hander walked in early on day two and enjoyed some stroke of luck in tricky batting conditions. However, the former Aussie captain played his shots freely after passing fifty before eventually falling for 101.
Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, the 62-year-old opined that Kohli is not out of form as it’s all about getting through that initial tricky period. He said:
“What’s needed you saw from Smith. It might have been a struggle early on but he was prepared to play the waiting game and be disciplined. I think the same with Virat. If Virat gets over that first 30, 40 minutes, with serious application and discipline, I don’t think he’s (out of form), none of these guys are out of form.”
Virat Kohli, meanwhile, has struggled since his 100* in the second innings in Perth. The 36-year-old bounced back from a single-figure score in the first dig in Perth and will be eyeing a return to form in the Boxing Day Test.
Ravi Shastri reckons the Indian and Aussie greats, Kohli and Smith, slipping down in the ICC Test batting rankings will have fired them up for the final two Tests. He said:
“I think they (Kohli and Smith) will have slipped down the ranks on current form because you know you’ve got the likes of Root taking off, there’s Williamson doing well, Harry Brook has come onto the scene, you know there are a lot of other young players pushing but these are class players. In a situation like this, you know they’ll be dangerous because they’ll be hungry.”
The five-Test series between Australia and India is currently locked at 1-1.