Has the world of cricket witnessed the conclusion of Virat Kohli’s Test career, or will he rebound to rejuvenate his journey? Kohli, who has shouldered the responsibility of Indian batting since Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement, was seen expressing frustration and striking his thigh following yet another dismissal. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has been dismissed for the eighth time in nine innings, edging balls to the slip cordon or the wicketkeeper. His most recent setback occurred during the fifth Test against Australia, where he fell to a back-of-length ball from Scott Boland on the second day.
At the age of 36, Kohli’s career seems to be at a pivotal point, with his difficulties being linked more to mental hurdles than to technical deficiencies. The consistent nature of his dismissals indicates a deep-rooted tendency of “fishing” outside the off-stump.
Throughout nine innings in the series, aside from a century in Perth and a score of 36 in Melbourne, Kohli has generally faced challenges. Excluding his 136 runs from those two innings, his total diminishes to merely 54 runs from the remaining seven outings.
For a player of Kohli’s caliber, determining his future during such a tough time is a daunting endeavor. Nonetheless, it is clear that Kohli is resolute about continuing his career and aims to play for India until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Former head coach Ravi Shastri has supported these views, affirming that Kohli will move forward. Nevertheless, a former national selector expressed worries regarding his prospects of selection for the England tour in June without showing form in red-ball cricket.
“It would be very hard for selectors to pick either Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli on the basis of IPL performance or form. There has to be some red-ball cricket for them in the lead-up to the England tour. Else you can’t justify their selections,” the ex-selector informed PTI.
At present, there is no sign that Kohli intends to take part in the Ranji Trophy, which restarts on January 23. Delhi’s forthcoming matches against Saurashtra and Railways in late January and early February could act as preparation, but Kohli’s busy agenda may exclude him from domestic cricket.
Kohli, who now spends a significant amount of time in London, will soon concentrate on India’s three-match ODI series against England, beginning February 6, followed by the Champions Trophy (February 19–March 9) and the IPL starting March 14.
Opting out of the IPL for a county stint could assist Kohli in adapting to England’s red-ball conditions, but as one of the IPL’s main attractions, he is unlikely to miss the opportunity to captain RCB in search of a long-awaited title. Another option may be participating in a few India A matches during their shadow tour of England before the main team’s Test series kicks off at Leeds on June 18.
While Kohli’s Test career may appear to be at an end for the moment, his legacy implies that unexpected developments could arise. For a player of his grade, an unforeseen turn in the narrative is always a possibility.
