It’s fair to say, Virat Kohli is no longer the feared Test batter. He has not been near his best in the last two years, scoring at 32.13 and in the process, his career average has gone below 50.00 in all formats for the first time. While he may not be in the same league as Joe Root, Steve Smith or Kane Williamson anymore, but IND vs WI series always helps superstars get their forms back. The two Tests will be crucial for him to jump-start his Test career before Babar Azam sneaks into the so-called Fab 4.
In the last World Test Championship Cycle, Virat Kohli was a shadow of the run machine he once was. From averaging nearly 55, his average in 2021-23 has nosedived. In 17 Tests or 30 innings, he has only managed to score 1 century and 3 half-centuries, scoring 932 runs.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra said the Fab 4 has now become Fab 3.
“Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson were a sure shot ‘Fab Four’ at one point. In fact, even David Warner’s name was present in that list. We are talking about Test cricket. We are talking about the period between 2014 and 2019. But we don’t have a ‘Fab 4’ now, only a ‘Fab 3’,” said Chopra.
Downfall of Virat Kohli
It all started in 2020. Till 2019, Virat Kohli had a formidable and enviable record in Tests. No matter which bowler he face, Kohli commanded respect.
With 54.97 average and 27 centuries, Kohli was destined to not only catch the legendary Sachin Tendulkar but also surpass him. However, then he hit a slump. His average went below 20 before Asia Cup 2022 where he finally showed glimpses of his old self.
With Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill all fighting for a spot besides Sarfaraz Khan, his erratic form is a cause for concern, especially when he is on the wrong side of 35. As for his competitors, they have not only been consistent, Joe Root, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson have all surpassed him in the number of centuries. Only Williamson is behind in terms of most Test runs as he has struggled with injuries in these two years.
There has been no technical problem as such. But it has been Kohli’s approach that has let him down. Even Tendulkar had to refrain from playing any cover drives in the 2004 Sydney Test. But such is Kohli’s ego that he even fell to his teammate Jaydev Unadkat in the 2-day practice game in Barbados, trying to play a cover drive. Kohli is also in the corridor of uncertainty like many others before him.
A look at Fab 4 in WTC 2021-23 cycle
| Player | Country | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | 100 | 50 | 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JE Root | England | 22 | 40 | 1915 | 180* | 53.19 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Steve Smith | Australia | 20 | 32 | 1407 | 200* | 47.74 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 7 | 12 | 752 | 215 | 75.2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 17 | 30 | 932 | 186 | 32.13 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Babar Azam* | Pakistan | 14 | 26 | 1527 | 196 | 61.08 | 4 | 10 | 0 |
In such a situation, Kohli is not the No 1, No 2, No 3 or even No 4. He is not even in Top 5 of best batters at present in Test cricket. Instead, from the sub-continent, a new King has emerged in Babar Azam while Marnus Labuchagne too is equally charging ahead.
So, is the West Indies series a career-saving one for Virat Kohli? Maybe not. BCCI, selectors and the coach have immense trust in his abilities for the right reasons. But from the team’s perspective, his lukewarm form is a cause for concern after losing two consecutive WTC Finals. With Mission WTC 2025 beginning in the Caribbean, it is important that Kohli returns to form.
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