NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli is currently going through a lean patch, with his disappointing performance in the recent three-match Test series at home against New Zealand raising concerns for Team India ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to start on November 22 in Australia.
Kohli managed only 93 runs across the three Tests against the Kiwis, averaging 15.50. He failed to reach double digits in four innings, scoring 0 in the Bengaluru Test, 1 in the Pune Test, and 4 and 1 in the Mumbai Test.
In his last six Tests, Kohli has scored a mere 250 runs at an average of 22.72, with just one half-century.A veteran of 118 Tests with 9040 runs, Kohli’s last Test century came in 2023 against the West Indies in Port of Spain.
However, 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes it’s premature to dismiss Kohli.
“In my opinion, Virat Kohli will start doing in Australia (comeback). His area is Australia. I think that’s his strength. I think it’s too early to talk like this about Virat Kohli (moving on from him). I won’t accept it. Virat Kohli has got a lot of time. One or two bad years of Test cricket,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
VIRAT vs AUSTRALIA
Kohli’s exceptional record against Australia is well-known. In 25 Tests against them, he has scored 2042 runs at an average of 47.48, including eight centuries.
When playing against Australia on their turf, Kohli has scored 1352 runs in 13 Tests at an impressive average of 54.08, with six centuries.
Under Kohli’s leadership, India made history as the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia during the 2018-19 tour.
The much-anticipated India-Australia series kicks off on November 22, with the first Test in Perth. The second Test, from December 6 to 10, will be a day-night encounter at Adelaide Oval.
The series then moves to Brisbane for the third Test at The Gabba, from December 14 to 18.
The iconic Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground will be the fourth match, running from December 26 to 30, while the fifth and final Test will take place in Sydney, beginning on January 3.
