India’s senior players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, have recently come under heavy scrutiny due to their lack of runs in the ongoing home Test series, which concluded with India’s first Test series loss at home in 12 years. The pressure has been amplifying for both seasoned batsmen as their bats struggled to contribute significant scores amidst expectations from the cricketing fraternity and their fans. Rohit managed to accumulate only 104 runs, while Kohli gathered 187 runs across eight innings, reflecting unanticipated below-par performances from India’s leading figures.
Virat Kohli, in particular, has been in the spotlight, partly due to his absence in the England series, reducing his inning appearances to a smaller sample size. Yet, his performance has shown a concerning trend with three single-digit scores in four home Test matches, a situation that is unfamiliar and unsettling for the run-machine. Such scores, however, come as a surprise when considering Kohli’s high standards in international cricket, where he has dominated bowlers across conditions worldwide.
During the Pune Test, Kohli’s continued struggles against spin were evident, particularly against New Zealander Mitchell Santner. Santner’s exquisite accuracy and bowing cunningness prove tough to negotiate not just for Kohli, but for Indian batsmen as a collective. As India anticipates its upcoming series against Australia, the team hopes dearly for Rohit and Kohli to rediscover their form, critical to their Test series campaigns.
Former New Zealand pacer, now esteemed commentator, Simon Doull, contributes a somewhat reassuring perspective on Kohli’s recent batting woes. Doull posits that Kohli’s struggles may not be as dire a concern when assessed from a broader context. “There are issues against spin but he’s not the only one. You’re not going to find those (spin-friendly) conditions in Australia.
. He (Kohli) had a great series Down Under,” Doull remarked, suggesting that Kohli’s prowess against fast bowling remains intact and steady.
Doull further elaborated that India’s present batting technique against spin has been exposed due to the high-quality spin-friendly surfaces they consistently train on. The former speedster noted that the quality of Indian spinners like Jadeja and Ashwin had historically allowed India to dominate on turning pitches. “I think you get used to playing on such good wickets. And when it does turn, techniques get exposed a little bit,” Doull added. This exposure is a wake-up call for Indian cricket as they must adjust to neutralize weaknesses, especially when they were outperformed by New Zealand’s spin attack, which has not been considered world-class.
The upcoming final Test of the series in Mumbai, scheduled to commence on November 1st through the 5th, presents a critical opportunity for Kohli and Sharma to remedy their batting composures. As India steps into the last encounter before their fierce contest with Australia, eyes will remain sharply focused on their performances. It’s an imperative match not just for personal form but for spreading reassurance through their fans and team management as they navigate this challenging phase in Indian cricket.
In the broader context, the performance rut faced by Kohli and Sharma also spotlights the evolving dynamics of international cricket where conditions, competition, and form sync in complex patterns constantly testing the mettle of cricketing greats. While Kohli’s absence of big scores raises eyebrows, previous exploits and strategic shifts anticipate a return to form as pressure builds towards the much-anticipated Australia series. In his optimistic note, Doull underscores the temporary nature of current criticisms, emphasizing the unchanged quick play capability of Kohli that can steer him back to his landmark winning ways on international pitches.
