Virat Kohli last scored a century in overseas Test in 2018 vs Australia in Perth.
Virat Kohli ended his century drought in Test cricket earlier this year with a sparkling 186 against Australia in Ahmedabad. It was the first time that Kohli had reached three figures in the format since November 2019 when India faced Bangladesh in their very-first day-night Test in Kolkata.
However, his drought of overseas centuries has continued for five years now as the last time Kohli scored a century in an away Test was against Australia when he made 123 in Perth (December 2018).
He recently scored 76 in the only innings India batted in the first Test of the two-match series against the West Indies.
India batting coach Vikram Rathour says Kohli’s good form went on for a long time and it was logical that there would be a slump at some point.
“His (Kohli’s) good form went for a long time, nearly kept scoring for nine years. Cricket logic tells us that the lean phase was on the horizon. His good phase lasted a long time and if there’s a loss of momentum, it will last for some time.
In the five years, he hasn’t scored a century (overseas), three of them we were dealing with Covid. So there weren’t enough games, restrictions. So there’s not much to look into it," said Rathour in a press conference ahead of the second Test.
India will need somebody like Ajinkya Rahane to come good in South Africa: Vikram Rathour
Rathour says the 34-year-old can change his game as needed which for him is his biggest quality.
“He’s batting well and as a batting coach, I believe in adaptability. He’s an aggressive player, who tries to dominate but a good player is someone who can change his game as per conditions and the team’s requirements. That is Virat’s biggest quality. He can play different formats differently, he has shown it in the past," the former India selector said.
He also said that Kohli set an example for youngsters as he showed patience and excellent defense against spinners on a difficult pitch.
“By the time he came to bat, the wicket had started offering more turn and bounce. The way he defended against left-arm spinner, I think it was a lesson for youngsters on how to play when the ball is going away from you. It was extremely good. 100 is inevitable the way he’s playing," said Rathour.
(ANI inputs)