Virat Kohli's Last 10 Test Innings: Has India's Favourite Batter Turned Into A Burden?

Virat Kohli has been in abysmal form in Test cricket [Source: PTI]

Virat Kohli has been the backbone of Indian cricket for more than a decade now, making mincemeat of the opposition with his incredible batting brilliance. From rescuing the team from seemingly lost situations to leading from the front, Kohli has been India's batting talisman.

However, the situation seems to have changed in recent times. Virat Kohli, who has been one of the players against whom bowlers used to pile up their homework, now seems to be out-of-sorts, especially in Test cricket.

Over Kohli's last 10 Test innings, the numbers paint an alarming picture. The modern-day master averages just 26.60 with 266 runs to his name. These numbers make us think what exactly is going wrong for one of the best batters in modern times.

Virat Kohli's last 10 innings in Test Cricket

What’s Going Wrong With Kohli?

1. Lack of Commitment & Temperament

One of the standout aspects of Kohli’s personality was his exponentially intense desire to win. He was a home-ground hero and capable of grinding the most difficult conditions that overseas tours could offer with his hard work.

However, these days, Kohli does not appear to be as watchful and patient at the crease anymore which is vastly different from how he used to bat during his purple patch.

He does not show the hunger to bat long hours, nor does he have that commitment. The change in his temperament is clearly visible from the way he is getting out to deliveries that he would play with total ease.

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2. Casual Batting Approach

After watching Kohli bat currently there is a perception that his batting approach is casual rather than aggressive which has often led to him losing his wicket.

He's giving his wicket away while looking to score runs instead of earning them. This is not the Kohli who would plan and plot long innings with absolute precision. It seems as if he is almost trying to overcompensate for past failures too quickly, which in turn has made things worse for him and the Indian team.

3. Weakness Against Spin

What was once a strength of Kohli — facing spin bowling — has gone from an unbeatable skill to a worrisome problem in recent days. Bowlers have found that area like a skeleton key when it comes to the removal of his wicket time and again.

Moreover, the former skipper is not being able to rotate the strike and forge partnerships as he used to, which is putting pressure on him, as well as his partners at the other end.

Is Kohli Becoming A Burden For India?

The timing for Kohli's lean patch in Tests couldn't have been worse as he has looked more of a liability than an asset. While it would be a bit too harsh to call him a 'liability' (even though it very well could be the case), his play is hurting the Indian team for sure. With big runs not coming, there is increased pressure on the other batters to make up for Kohli's shortcomings.

Conclusion

India needs Virat Kohli to find his form again, particularly given what’s at stake—a spot in the World Test Championship 2023-25 Final. While there is no doubt over his talent, experience, and ability to bounce back, a shift in mindset is required for the veteran batter to get back to the player he has been throughout his career.

Kohli needs to get back to the basics and show the same hunger, commitment, and temperament that he once used to day in and day out. If the stalwart can manage to do it, he can once again become the pillar of the Indian Test team that he was.

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