In July 2023, Virat Kohli last scored a Test century. He scored a Test century in 2023 as he played a knock of 121 against West Indies in port of Spain. After this Test right-handed batter has played six Tests, failing to go past the 50-run mark, on just occasions. In the ongoing Test series versus New Zealand, Virat Kohli’s form has become a big issue as he has been struggling against the turning ball. At Pune in the second Test Virat Kohli was dismissed by Mitchell Santner in both the innings, This was the first time when the batter was dismissed twice in a Test by a left-arm spinner.
One of the reasons behind India’s first home Test series loss since 2012 was Virat Kohli’s poor form. In the last four years, Virat has scored two Test centuries, and both of them came in 2023, one against Australia on a flat pitch in Ahmedabad and other Test against West Indies.
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has told that it is now a recurring pattern of Kohli being dismissed by spinners, and the right-handed batter needs to find solutions.
Dinesh Karthik told while speaking to cricbuzz ” Virat Kohli has not had it easy, the series has not been good to him, three out of four innings, he has disappointed. It is obviously a recurring pattern where spinners have troubled him, and I think he will go and figure out what he needs to do to come out stronger. He is a man, who is searching for answers. when you reach that level of genius and super stardom, you will be thrown challenges and here is another challenge. India likes to play on pitches that aids spin, what is his game plan?”
‘Should go back to domestic cricket’
Dinesh Karthik also said that Kohli should “probably go back to domestic cricket” in order to regain his mojo, that once made him the best batter in the world.
Dinesh Karthik said ” We all know what he is capable, this series was not meant to be. Like the fans have been saying, he has not done it for a long time and that we can’t run away from. We don’t want to sugarcoat it because we want to be as objective in assessing any player , any performance, at the moment Virat Kohli’s Test record in the last 2-3 years, has not been great against spin,”
“What we needs to do, is probably go back to domestic cricket and focus on what needs to be done with the current rules of DRS. There is no doubt the left arm spinners pose a big threat,” he added.