Virat Kohli’s reached such a level that what could be labelled as success for others is termed a failure for him. The former Indian captain was averaging 54.8 until 2019 in Test cricket, but as of now, it stands at 49.15. That’s quite a drop. During his slump (2020-22), Kohli averaged 26.2 and couldn’t score a century. He’s since recovered, but not entirely. He now seems to have a weakness against left-arm spinners, especially in Tests. However, his former teammate Pragyan Ojha believes that Kohli, like other greats of the game, can overcome these challenges.
Virat Kohli will evolve: Ojha
From 2020, Kohli averages just 30.2 against left-arm spinners in Tests. With Bangladesh coming to India and bringing two left-armers in Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam, it won’t be easy for the 28-time centurion to notch another ton to his name.
“When you talk about players like Virat Kohli, they’ve played more than a decade of international cricket. There will be a time when there are different challenges, and you’ll need to upgrade yourself. Legends of the game always evolve, and I expect him to evolve,” Ojha said to InsideSport.
Virat Kohli’s record vs left-arm orthodox spin in Tests
| Innings | Runs | Balls | Outs | Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Until 2019 | 53 | 775 | 1414 | 7 | 110.7 |
| Since 2020 | 25 | 272 | 686 | 9 | 30.2 |
Others success = Kohli’s failure
Ojha also pointed out that Kohli had such an incredible record that even when he scored a half-century, it was considered a failure. This certainly rings true. Virat Kohli scoring ‘even 50 or 60 looks like a failure’, says Pragyan Ojha, as the batter still managed to score six fifties during his slump, three of which came oversees.
Greats have had their challenges and overcame them. I’m very sure Virat will always do that; it’s just a matter of time. Virat has set the benchmark so high that even a 50 or 60 looks like a failure for him. That’s just how he’s contributed to the Indian team. It’s just a phase; the way he trains and his work ethic—it’s just a matter of time (before he comes good).
