The Indian batters have struggled in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, with Australia holding a 2-1 lead going into the final Test in Sydney. A remarkable victory in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne has given Pat Cummins’ men the momentum, and they will enter the last match of the series full of confidence. For India, the most underperforming batters have been senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Kohli, who has been one of India’s most consistent performers in Australian conditions over the years, has faced a challenging time this series. The right-hander, with an impressive record of 1519 runs at an average of 49 across 17 matches in Australia, has been far from his best in this series.
On top of his batting failures, Virat Kohli’s on-field conduct has also been scrutinized. A notable moment was his shoulder barge with Australia’s Sam Konstas at the MCG, which led to him being fined 20% of his match fees and receiving a demerit point.
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Former Australian captain Aaron Finch offered a peculiar take on Kohli’s struggles. He suggested that the Indian batter thrives on pressure and might be intentionally stirring controversy to bring out his best. According to Finch, Kohli is someone who performs when his back is against the wall and may be trying to create tension to fuel his performances.
“Virat is someone who has always thrived on pressure. It just feels like at this stage, he is trying to put his own back against the wall. He’s almost trying to pick a fight because that’s when he plays his best cricket. When he feels someone’s coming at him, that’s when he showcases all his skills,” Aaron Finch shared on ESPN’s Around the Wicket podcast.
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Kohli’s struggles have extended beyond this series. His 2023-24 Test year has been underwhelming, with just 417 runs at a poor average of 24.52. His performance in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle (2023-25) has also been lacklustre, with only 728 runs in 13 Tests at 34.66, including just two centuries. This has left many wondering when Kohli will rediscover his vintage form.
