Virat Kohli began the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with a second innings hundred (100*) at Perth, but he managed to amass only 90 runs in his other eight innings combined.
The age-old problem of fishing outside the off stump led to Kohli’s downfall throughout the tour Down Under, with Australian quick Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc exposing his weakness.
Boland dismissed the Indian batting stalwart for 17 and 6 in the two innings of the ongoing Sydney Test, which is heading towards a thrilling finish.
After the second day’s play at SCG, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar commented on Virat Kohli’s future in Test cricket.
Gavaskar feels it’s ultimately the selectors' responsibility to determine Kohli’s future in the longest format of the game. He highlighted the importance of looking forward, especially considering who will be available for the 2027 World Test Championship final.
"As a non-decision maker, I believe it’s up to the selection committee to decide the way forward. Ajit Agarkar is someone who will make the right decision for Indian cricket. What I’ve been emphasising over the last 8–10 days is that we need to consider who will be available for the 2027 World Test Championship final. The new cycle begins with the England series in June, and it’s important to assess which players are likely to be around in 2027. This should guide the selection process," Gavaskar told India Today.
"Ultimately, the selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, need to look at who will be available for the 2027 final and who will still be selectable. As for this match, if India wins tomorrow, they still have a chance to make it to the World Test Championship final. After that, the focus will shift to the England tour," he added.
While Kohli finished the tour of Australia with an average of 23.75, he scored only 440 runs in 21 Test innings at an average of 23.15 last year.
Gavaskar also pointed out a flaw in Kohli’s technique after the latter was dismissed 8 out of 9 times by nicking the ball outside the off-stump.
"It’s not a temperament issue; it’s a technical fault. He's so front-footed that when the ball bounces, he's unable to adjust, which leads to him hanging his bat outside the line and getting out. This flaw has become embedded in his technique, and on pitches with significant bounce, he will continue to struggle," Gavaskar remarked.
Coming to the Sydney Test, the visitors secured an overall second-innings lead of 145 runs with four wickets in hand at stumps on Day 2. The pitch was tricky right from the outset, and Australia’s first innings folded for 181 after India posted 185 on the board.
