If you thought Virat Kohli vs pacers in Tests was a big problem, think again. The legend has managed to create a bigger problem for himself in the ODIs, where he is still the best in the world. For now, his 13,963 runs in 297 ODIs at an average of 57.93, isn’t really doing justice to the way he is falling to leg-spinners in the 50-over format.
Virat Kohli vs Leg-spin
In the Champions Trophy 2025 opening match vs Bangladesh on Thursday, Virat Kohli perished for only 22, once again to a leg-spinner — Rishad Hossain. The delivery was pitched “outside off” and the batter tried to cut it hard. In this bid, he skied it and was caught by Soumya Sarkar at point. And with this dismissal, he has been removed five times by leg-spinners in his previous six innings.
It all started in the India-Sri Lanka ODIs, where he was dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, and twice by Adil Rashid against England. Moreover, it was the fashion in which he was dismissed, that made it clear, that he is certainly struggling against the wrist spinners.
Worrying Signs for India in Champions Trophy
For the record, since 2024 in ODIs, Virat Kohli has a poor record vs the spinners. In five innings, he has only scored 31 runs in 51 deliveries, and has been removed five times as well. His average has been a paltry 6.20, whereas strike-rate stands at 60.78. If that is not enough, his ODI record last year, and this year has been poor, from the lofty standards that he sets.
In the three matches in 2024, he scored 58 runs only, at an average of 19.33. This year, in three matches he has scored 79 runs at an average of 26.33, including a 52 vs England. Having said that, Virat is on the verge of becoming the third-ever, to score 14,000 runs in the format after Sachin Tendulkar, and Kumar Sangakkara, and also the fastest.
