Virat Kohli has had two innings in his Test career — before 2020 and since then. In his first innings, Kohli was bullish, scoring at over 53 average, smashing centuries at will, and becoming the “Fabulous” among this generation’s Top 4 Test batters. Then, he hit a rut that is ongoing despite some return to form. Former India wicket-keeper-batter and Kohli’s RCB teammate Parthiv Patel has backed Virat Kohli, saying he has excelled despite the pressure on him. The other three in Fav 4 — Joe Root, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson can’t even think of the pressure Kohli handles.
“I don’t think he’s feeling that kind of pressure. And as you rightly mentioned, I don’t think Smith or Joe Root or Williamson can even think of the type of pressure he must be feeling,” Parthiv Patel said on JioCinema ahead of the IND vs BAN 2nd Test in Kanpur.
High standard, low output
Since 2020, Virat Kohli has averaged 32.72, scoring just two centuries and eight half-centuries in 52 Test innings even as he is nearing a 27000-run milestone. His competitors are way ahead in terms of average, runs and centuries. However, Parthiv Patel does not believe Kohli’s form has dipped drastically. Instead, he believes that the expectation is so high that even 60-70-run knocks look ordinary.
“The pressure of expectation, that is huge. He has set his standard so high that even if he scores 60 or 70, that comes across as a failure. Because every time he walks in, we expect him to score 100. We expect him to play with that kind of intensity,” Parthiv Patel added.
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Virat Kohli vs Fab 3
In the first innings of his career, Virat Kohli was a run-machine, smashing 7202 runs in 84 innings, scoring at nearly 55 on average. He also had 27 centuries. He had the most centuries among the Fab 4. Steve Smith was close at 26 while Kane Williamson had 21 and Joe Root had just 17.
| Fab 4 before 2020 | Innings | Runs | Avg | 50/100 | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 84 | 7202 | 54.97 | 22/27 | 254 |
| Joe Root | 164 | 7359 | 48.41 | 45/17 | 254 |
| Steve Smith | 130 | 7164 | 62.84 | 28/26 | 239 |
| Kane Williamson | 137 | 6379 | 51.44 | 31/21 | 242 |
The post-Covid era did not favour Virat Kohli. He went on a three-year streak without scoring any centuries as Joe Root and others caught on. Kohli’s Test average dwindled to 32.72 in 52 innings. While Kohli has picked up pace in the last 18 months, scoring two centuries, he is still not at his best.
Joe Root on the other hand has jumped all to hammer 17 centuries. Kane Williamson is a close second once again with 11 Test centuries.
| Fab 4 since 2020 | Innings | Runs | Avg | 50/100 | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 52 | 1669 | 32.72 | 8/2 | 186 |
| Joe Root | 103 | 5043 | 54.22 | 19/17 | 228 |
| Steve Smith | 65 | 2521 | 45.01 | 13/6 | 200 |
| Kane Williamson | 41 | 2449 | 66.18 | 4/11 | 251 |
