Virat Kohli’s form and future in Test cricket have become a topic of intense concern following his poor performance in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Brisbane, where he was dismissed for just three runs in the first innings. This failure at the Gabba resulted in Kohli’s career batting average plummeting to its lowest in eight years, leaving him on the verge of experiencing an unwanted first in his illustrious career. His recent struggles have been particularly notable in the context of his tour to Australia, which has been seen as potentially the final Test series of his career. This tour was viewed as a make-or-break opportunity for Kohli, who had been enduring a lean patch over the last 12 months, especially following a disappointing series against New Zealand at home. In that series, Kohli recorded his worst performance on home soil in seven years, which only fueled the growing concerns about his form.
Despite these setbacks, Kohli managed to raise hopes of a resurgence with a century in the series opener in Perth. This knock briefly rejuvenated his career, allowing him to return to the top 20 in the ICC Test rankings after he had fallen below this threshold for the first time in 10 years, following the New Zealand series. However, this brief period of optimism turned out to be a false dawn, as his weaknesses against deliveries outside the off-stump line resurfaced in the subsequent Tests.
Kohli’s struggles continued, with him being dismissed for scores of 7 and 11 in the Adelaide pink ball Test, and just 3 runs at the Gabba. These repeated failures at key moments have sparked serious concerns, with former Australian cricketer Allan Border questioning whether Kohli has lost his edge and whether his time at the top of the game might be coming to an end.
Kohli’s career batting average, which had been a marker of his consistency and excellence, took a significant hit after his failure in the first innings at the Gabba. His average fell to 47.9, the lowest it has been since it dipped to 47.50 during the 2016 home series against England. This current figure is a stark contrast to his peak average of 55.10 in 2019, highlighting the significant decline in his form. Kohli had initially crossed the 50 mark for his career average in 2016 during his 52nd Test appearance, after he scored a double century against England.
He maintained an average above 50 for six years, a testament to his consistency at the highest level. However, after his average dropped following the Bengaluru day-night Test against Sri Lanka in 2022, Kohli has been unable to recover and has not been able to push his average back above the 50 marks in another 50 Test appearances. This prolonged slump has raised questions about whether Kohli can ever return to his previous heights or if his career is facing an irreversible decline.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
