The Indian captain Virat Kohli is having a little a dip in form lately in Test cricket.
Virat Kohli’s last seven Test match innings starting back from 2020 tour of New Zealand reads 2, 19, 3, 14, 74, 4 & 11 – 127 runs at an average of 18.14.
Then even as a captain, Virat Kohli as lost last thee of the Test matches, all away matches. Two matches were against New Zealand and one against in recent series in Australia.
2, 19, 3, 14, 74, 4 & 11 – Kohli's last 7 Test inns (Average 18.14). Kohli has not scored an International century in his last 31 inns. Kohli's last Int'l century was against Bangladesh in India on 23rd Nov 2019. India lost their last 3 Tests under Kohli's captaincy. #Cricket
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) February 7, 2021
Now again, in the ongoing first Test between India and England, Virat Kohli fell to off-spinner Dominic Bess to short-leg for 11. Virat Kohli has a history of falling to short-leg fielder when facing spinners.
Is Virat Kohli loosing his form? Is it the effect of the corona virus pandemic and its SOPs that have made him like this? Whatever may be the reason, Virat Kohli is still India’s finest cricketer ever. One cannot ignored his level of performance and leadership.
However, there are some people who believed that “captaincy pressure”, which is common in cricket, has finally taken over him. Virat Kohli only led India in one Test match against Australia, where India were bowled out for 36. He left the side due to the birth of his child and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane took over. Ajinkya Rahane then led Indian to 2-0 win in the next three matches of the series, resulting 2-1 series victory over Australia.
Is it the best for India to give the captaincy over to Ajinkya Rahane?
Rishabh Pant saved India
Meanwhile, young rising star Rishabh Pant has played yet another innings that saved India as for now. After India were restricted to 73-4 when England put on 578, Rishabh Pant joined Cheteshwar Pujara and together they shared an important partnership of 119. Both batsmen were dismissed as India are 257-6 at stumps on day three.
But Rishabh Pant scored 91. In fact, Rishab Pant in his last eleven innings read 425 runs at an average of 47.22 with three fifties (including the innings against England). In his last four innings, he score three fifties. 97 against Australia in a match saving draw in Sydney, and then against a match winning 89* against Australia in Brisbane. Now he scored 91 in a game where England could have walkover.
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