There were serious concerns about Virat Kohli’s batting form in the lead up to the crucial Christchurch Test but the India captain wanted to play it down. He said the scorecards don’t reflect a batsman’s form right all the time.
However, in New Zealand, it’s hard to deny Virat Kohli has not been the run machine that he is known to be. In fact, Kohli has endured one of the worst patches of his career with the bat.
Kohli failed to get bat on the delivery, which was pitched right in the middle and targetted at the stumps, to get trapped off de Grandhomme in a crucial evening session’s play on Day 2 of the final Test in Christchurch. With this, the right-hander’s miserable run with the willow came to an end in New Zealand. He, thus, only managed to cross the 50-run mark on a solitary occasion, during the three ODIs, to remain without a ton in 22 international innings on the trot.
His tally of 218 is the lowest he has managed on a tour where he has played all 3 formats of the sport.
In the crucial Test series that is part of the World Test Championship, Virat Kohli’s form (or the lack of it) has been India’s major concern. In 2 Tests and 4 innings, Kohli has managed just 38 runs at an average of 9.50.
This is Kohli’s 2nd lowest average in a Test series with 2-plus matches.
9.20 vs Australia in 2017 in India
9.50 vs New Zealand in 2020 in New Zealand
13.40 vs England in 2014 in England
This is his lowest average in a Test series overseas, worse than the horrible patch he had in England in 2014 wherein he managed 134 runs across 10 innings.
This is only the 2nd time in his career that Kohli has gone without a score of 20 in a Test series. His scores in New Zealand Tests read 2, 19, 3, 14.
Earlier in the day, Virat Kohli was lauded by former India batsman VVS Laxman who said the skipper did not let his poor form with the bat affect the way he led the team on the field.
Virat Kohli was charged up throughout Sunday morning as he supervised a fine bowling performance by his team. From 63 for 0, New Zealand were bowled out for 235. Kohli took a fine slip catch and was marshalling his troops well to make sure the hosts did not take a lead.
“The intensity, his body language was there to be seen. He is not getting affected by the low scores he has had so far on this tour,” VVS Laxman had told Star Sports on Sunday.
“Because the worst thing for any team when you lose a Test match, when you lose a ODI series 3-0 is the body language and the confidence level of the captain getting affected. With Virat Kohli, you don’t see that. And that’s rubbing off on all the players.”
