Virat Kohli's Batting Struggles In Tests Mental, Not Technical

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Indian skipper Virat Kohli's manner of dismissal in the second innings of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in Southampton has drawn comparisons to his dismissals during the 2014 trip to England when the India No. 4 batsman was struggling to handle the movement. But this time, it could be his mind letting him down and not technique.

While former England captain Nasser Hussain thought his second innings dismissal "was similar to how he was getting dismissed in the 2014 series in England", some Indian cricket experts feel Kohli, after all that he has done in the past, can afford a lean patch during which such dismissals happen.

Kohli's recent run, especially in Test matches, has raised eyebrows. His average in Test cricket has been 24.64 in the eight Tests since he last scored a Test century back in November, 2019. It is very low compared to his career Test average of 52.04.

Even his ODI batting average has taken a hit. It is 43.26 in the phase (between December 1, 2019 to now) as against his career average of 59.07. That apart, he has not got a single century in the period.

"It (lean phase) has happened to the best of people, happened to Sunil Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, happened to me. I had good seasons in 1969, 1970, 1971 but in 1972 I got five zeroes in Ranji Trophy despite the fact that I was in good form," said former India batsman, coach and selector Anshuman Gaekwad to IANS.

Another former national selector Gagan Khoda too said it is not something to worry about. "Every player goes through a lean phase. Playing eight Test matches without a century or a dip in average does not mean that a batsman like Kohli will continue to fail. He has made so many runs, scored so many centuries over the years, so there will be a time when he will struggle. Every batsman does," said Khoda to IANS.

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