All the expectations went down in drain as India’s star batter Virat Kohli went out cheaply in the IND vs AUS first Test in Peth. In a tough session for India, Kohli fell victim to a delivery from Josh Hazlewood that rose unexpectedly, catching him off guard. The ball took an outside edge and was safely caught at slip by Usman Khawaja, leaving Kohli with just 5 runs from 12 balls.
Kohli’s struggle against Hazlewood
Hazlewood’s extra bounce seemed to trouble Kohli, who couldn’t quite find his rhythm on this pitch. Kohli’s mistake was standing too far ahead of the popping crease. Kohli’s extra step or two forward made it appear as though the ball bounced higher than usual. In reality, it was just normal bounce for the Perth pitch at that length, but his positioning caused the misjudgment.
This lack of awareness put him in a vulnerable position, ultimately leading to his dismissal. It was an uncharacteristic error from the usually precise batsman. His departure for a low score added to India’s early woes, with the team struggling. Kohli’s inability to make a big contribution has left the middle order with a tough task ahead.
Kohli’s bad run continues
Kohli recently had a rough time in the Test series against New Zealand, making only 93 runs in 3 matches on home ground. His struggles affected the team’s performance, leading to India losing their first-ever home series against New Zealand. The defeat was even more painful because it was a 0-3 whitewash, the first India has ever experienced at home.
Virat Kohli’s 2024 run has been a struggle, with his form dipping considerably compared to previous years. In 7 matches this year, Kohli has managed only 255 runs at an average of 21.25, including just one half-century and a high score of 70. His strike rate of 68.91 further shows the lack of fluency in his game.
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