Virat Kohli’s struggles in Test cricket aren’t hidden from anyone. We have seen the former Indian captain fail time and again in red-ball cricket for the last five years. The slide started in 2020 and continued until 2022. Then in 2023, Kohli found form once again. One hoped things had changed, but the struggles have continued.
Virat Kohli’s Test struggles
After massively underperforming in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, many started to question his place in India’s Test team. Australia was Kohli’s best place to bat in Tests. But the fact that he couldn’t get among runs even there raised massive concerns. He needed to get into form.
Kohli did just that in the India vs. Pakistan match on February 23. The star batter finished the match with a boundary and scored his 82nd international century. Given the ICC Champions Trophy will be Kohli’s last international tournament before the India Test tour of England, this century would do Kohli loads of good.
How hundred against Pakistan can help Kohli’s Test career
Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Mike Hesson reckons that this ODI performance could be just what Kohli needed. Form goes a long way, and for someone of his talent, it could be what he needed to reignite the fire within and find his best self.
“Regardless of the format of the game, form and confidence go hand in hand. I don’t think it matters for a player like Virat whether it’s Test cricket or not. Virat will score runs anywhere. Whether it be Test cricket or any other format. The thing with Virat and all great players is that generally, once you find your form, you can,” Hesson told Cricbuzz.
There is merit in this logic. From 2012 to 2019, Kohli averaged over 50 in ODIs. In the same period, his Test average never dropped below 40 and went as high as 75. Since 2020, only once has Kohli’s average been over 50. That was in 2023. There is a correlation.
In 2025, Kohli’s last just one Test and averages nearly 60 after 4 ODIs. The 2023 trend would suggest that he’ll succeed in Test cricket once again. The difficulty might be that of all the SENA nations, England is where Kohli’s struggled the most. We know legends find a way, and Hesson won’t be shocked if he shows his best in red-ball cricket once again.
Has Champions Trophy hundred vs Pakistan saved Virat Kohli’s Test career? Ex-RCB head coach thinks so Inside Sport India.
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