Virat Kohli celebrates his 36th birthday today, but it feels like we aren’t in 2024 but rather 2012, when the now-modern great was still finding his feet and had turned 24. It’s the month of November that’s important to remember. He’d already cracked the ODI code and had ended 2012 as the third-best batter, but in Test cricket, the story was different.
12 years later, nothings changed
Having made his debut in June 2011, Kohli had averaged just 27 before travelling to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2011-12. It had been a very short career, but irregardless, an unimpressive one. Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, even tweeted this during the series: “I would still drop VVS & get Rohit in for next Test. Makes long term sense. Give Virat 1 more Test. Just to be sure he does not belong here.”
There were doubts over his place in the team and whether he was up to it against the best teams in Test cricket. Just yesterday (a day before his birthday), another former Indian cricketer, Karsan Ghavri, called for Kohli to retire if he doesn’t perform in BGT 2024-25. 12 years later, we stand at the same place. Those concerns have returned. In between, he’s enjoyed success that only a handful of players have.
Father time catching up?
Now and then, Kohli was wondering the same thing: Will I play Test cricket for India ever again? However, at 24, Kohli had all the time in the world to return to the Indian side. He doesn’t have that luxury now. At 36, with form dwindling, if Kohli’s out, he’s gone forever. We’ve seen it happen to several Indian greats, and the two most recent victims were Kohli’s teammates Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.
BGT started it all for Kohli in 2012, and it could either restart or end his Test cricket as well. Many might not ponder, but the BGT has been a giant slayer. Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, and MS Dhoni all ended their Test careers during BGT.
What Kohli would be hoping is the 2024-25 BGT won’t be his last. However illustrious the list above is, he doesn’t feature on it, not yet.
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