Sydney: In what turned out to be an unsatisfactory end to India’s tour of Australia, star batsman Virat Kohli encountered yet another struggle, as he could not make any significant impact in the second innings of the Sydney Test. His performance has been barely satisfactory throughout the series; thus, he couldn’t do much with his dismissal for just 6 runs, caught by Steve Smith off the bowling of Scott Boland. This leaves a bitter note at the end of Kohli’s fifth tour to Australia, and arguably his worst.
Kohli, who during the Sydney Test scored only 23 runs across both innings, ended the series scoring a meagre 190 runs from nine innings over five matches. The only remarkable achievement he achieved during this series was his century in the second innings of the Perth Test; apart from that, no half-century was he able to achieve in the entire series.
Kohli’s maiden tour was to Australia in 2011, where he established his footprint with a century and a half-century. His second visit in 2014 was particularly memorable as he scored four centuries and one half-century, amassing 692 runs at an impressive average of 86.50. However, his subsequent tours have seen fluctuating performances, with only one century and a half-century recorded in 2018.
The current tour has been extra tough for Kohli. His contrast with the previous success has been particularly noticeable, and he has been criticised for his failure to change and deliver good performances. His 190 runs total for the series is significantly below what anyone would expect from such a player.
Kohli’s struggles are not limited to just this series; his overall performance for 2024 has also been unsatisfactory. Over 19 innings this year, he has managed to score only 417 runs at an average of less than 25, with just one century and one half-century to show for it. This year continues to be one of the worst for him in his illustrious cricketing career.
As Kohli ponders over this miserable tour and year, doubts are raised about his future in Test cricket. Reportedly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors are going to meet soon to discuss the team’s future plan and Kohli’s part in it.
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