Virat Kohli Bad times: The End is Nigh for Virat? – Two years, zero centuries, massive dip in average, injury and off-field controversies, Virat Kohli is in the eye of a storm. His millions of followers may have his back but the diminishing status of Virat Kohli is visible. But like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat too is eying a comeback. Follow IND vs SA Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
For a second consecutive year, Virat Kohli returned without a century. The last century came in November 2019 against Bangladesh and since then, he has endured a barren run. In Tests, his batting average has dipped to below 30 compared to his career average of over 52.00. In ODIs too, he has seen his form dip. In 15 matches, he has scored at an average of 43.26, lower than his career average of 59.07. Only in T20Is, he has maintained a great run.
Virat Kohli Bad times: Is Virat Kohli going through a lean phase that Sachin Tendulkar went through in early 2000’s?
IND vs SA: Issues plaguing Virat Kohli
No 100 since last 25 months: An owner of 27 Test centuries and 43 ODI tons, Virat Kohli has gone without one in the last 25 months. His last century came against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens in the pink ball Day/Night Test. He hasn’t scored any tons in ODIs, T20Is and even in IPL during this time.
Kohli lost his captaincy: While Virat Kohli stepped down as the T20I skipper and RCB captaincy citing bio-bubble fatigue, he was removed from the ODI captaincy by the selectors. Despite winning no ICC trophies, Virat Kohli is one of the most successful ODI skippers in history with over 70% winning percentage. But selectors removed him with just 90 minutes of notice.
Virat Kohli Bad times: Is Virat Kohli going through a lean phase that Sachin Tendulkar went through in early 2000’s?
Never write @imVkohli off..!!!🔥 pic.twitter.com/hptZEYu4ok
— Troll RCB Haters (@Troll_RCBHaters) January 4, 2022
No more World No 1: Once World No 1 in all three formats, Virat Kohli has fallen down in the ICC rankings. His poor form and the problem with his technique have been exploited by the opposition bowlers in England, in India and in South Africa in the last few months alone. In IPL, he struggled as well. In IPL 2021, Virat Kohli averaged just 28.92 with the strike rate dipping below 120.
Virat Kohli in Tests and ODIs since his last century
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 0 |
| Test | 14 | 25 | 0 | 652 | 74 | 26.08 | 1499 | 43.49 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| ODI | 15 | 15 | 0 | 649 | 89 | 43.26 | 702 | 92.45 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
Virat Kohli Bad times: Is Virat Kohli going through a lean phase that Sachin Tendulkar went through in early 2000’s?
Injuries: A fitness freak who rarely spends time out of the field with injuries, Virat Kohli had to sit out of the 2nd Test against South Africa due to an upper back spasm. However, as per reports, it is the recurrence of his slip disc problem that he faced in 2018. He did take part in prematch training session only to be ruled out at the last moment. With off form and injury and loss of captaincy immunity, it may not be long for the selectors to drop him.
Off-field controversy: Amid the rift, his public fall-out with the BCCI and contradicting BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has been well covered. After Ganguly said he tried to convince Kohli not to step down from T20I captaincy, Kohli said he was never asked. But later, Chetan Sharma, chairman of the selection committee, said everyone in the BCCI tried to convince him.
Virat Kohli Bad times: Is Virat Kohli going through a lean phase that Sachin Tendulkar went through in early 2000’s?
One can refer to the pages of Sachin Tendulkar’s career. Arguably the greatest batsman too had to deal with similar issues, triggering a famous headline from a daily, ‘End is nigh for Endulkar’. Virat Kohli, arguably the best batsman of the last decade, is going through the same problems.
Sachin Tendulkar’s similar problems: In the early 2000s, many wrote off Sachin Tendulkar after his persistent elbow problem, off form and loss of captaincy.
Tennis Elbow: Sachin Tendulkar suffered from tennis elbow for over two years and had to play with an elbow band for the rest of his career. He had to sit out for an extensive period of time to recover from what could have been a career-ending injury.
Virat Kohli Bad times: Is Virat Kohli going through a lean phase that Sachin Tendulkar went through in early 2000’s?
Lost Captaincy: Despite being regarded as one of the finest cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar was removed from captaincy abruptly after a string of poor results. Indian cricket was weathering a match-fixing storm and Sachin failed to manage the dressing room. The captaincy also hit his form badly.
Endulkar is nigh: Sachin Tendulkar later in his book admitted that it was the period when he contemplated retirement. With off form and injuries plaguing his career, a famous headline caught everyone’s attention, “End is nigh for Endulkar”. He was even booed by his home crowd at the Wankhede Stadium.
Virat Kohli is too weathering a rift in the dressing room amid allegations of a dressing room divide. But a batsman like Kohli is capable of turning things around as Sachin Tendulkar did. The Indian batting legend went on to play for 10 more years, scoring thousands of runs. Virat Kohli will be looking for inspiration from Tendulkar to brave the tide. In any case the two home series against West Indies and Sri Lanka will be the real deal.
Virat Kohli Bad times: Is Virat Kohli going through a lean phase that Sachin Tendulkar went through in early 2000’s?
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