Virat Kohli’s lean phase in Test cricket persisted as he managed only a single run off nine balls in the second Test against New Zealand, held in Pune. Kohli’s innings was cut short by Mitchell Santner, who bowled him out while attempting a sweep. Coming in after Shubman Gill’s dismissal at 30, Kohli appeared uncertain against Santner’s delivery and missed the ball entirely, leading to his stumps being knocked over. The typically dependable Indian batter looked visibly stunned as he realized he would have to walk back after yet another early exit.
A Growing Challenge Against Spin
Kohli’s struggles against spin, especially in Asia, have been notable. Since 2021, he has played 26 innings in Asian conditions, scoring 606 runs and getting dismissed 21 times, averaging just 28.85 with a strike rate of 49.67. This performance is a far cry from the consistency he displayed in previous years, as he now finds it difficult to tackle the challenges posed by spinners in the region.
His inability to anchor innings has left a significant gap in India’s middle order, an area where Kohli was once a stalwart. Recently, his form has led to him being overtaken by Rishabh Pant in the ICC Test rankings for batters.
Pressure on India’s Top Order
India’s batting order as a whole faced difficulties in this Test series, with even captain Rohit Sharma unable to make an impact. Rohit, like Kohli, was dismissed early, facing only nine balls and failing to score.
However, the bowlers offered some respite; Washington Sundar led the charge with a remarkable 7-wicket haul, supported by Ravichandran Ashwin’s three wickets, helping restrict New Zealand to a total of 259 runs in their first innings. With both Kohli and Sharma struggling, the pressure is on the Indian top order to find stability and break their ongoing streak of inconsistent performances.
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