New Delhi, June 25: India captain Virat Kohli’s batting form in Test matches and One-day Internationals has dipped over one-and-a-half years. His last Test century, which was also his last international ton, came way back in November 2019, against Bangladesh, and since then he has averaged an abysmal 24.64 in Test matches. He has, however, fared better in in ODIs at 43.26.
Kohli, who is well-placed to end his career as the player with most Test centuries – he is just six short of Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 ODI tons – endured the year 2020 as the first calendar year of his international career since 2008 without a triple figure mark. Since his November 2019 Test ton against Bangladesh, he has managed just three half-centuries in eight Test matches. The 24.64 Test average in this phase in 14 innings is well below his career average of 52.04.
Kohli hasn’t looked out of sorts. His two half-centuries (72 and 62) in the first two Test matches against England in Chennai this year came in difficult situations and on pitches that were tough to bat on. His other half-century, in the first Test in Adelaide, helped India gain a first innings lead before India caved in for 36 in the second innings.