Kohli's Red-Ball Form Raises Concerns, Slips Behind Fab Four

Strategic Insights -

Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg has expressed concerns about Virat Kohli's inconsistent form in red-ball cricket, citing his low Test average and inability to score centuries. Hogg believes Kohli's momentum is lost, and he will struggle to break Sachin Tendulkar's record of most Test runs. In contrast, England's Joe Root has shown great consistency, with 4579 runs in 49 Tests since 2021, and is currently the top-ranked ICC Test batter. Hogg suggests Root is the closest to breaking Tendulkar's record, with 3519 runs behind the Indian great's tally.

Key Takeaways:

  • Virat Kohli's Test average has dropped to 32.72, with just 2 centuries since 2020, putting him behind in the race to break Sachin Tendulkar's record of most Test runs.
  • Kohli has scored 1669 runs in 9 matches at an average of 32.72, whereas his counterparts in the fab four - Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson - have shown significant improvement in Test cricket.
  • Brad Hogg believes Kohli has lost his momentum and will take time to regain it, making it unlikely for him to break Tendulkar's record in the next 10 Test matches.
  • Joe Root has shown great consistency in red-ball cricket since 2021, with 4579 runs in 49 Tests, including 17 centuries, and is currently the top-ranked ICC Test batter.
  • Root has 3519 runs behind Tendulkar's record and is positioned to be the closest to breaking it, with Hogg suggesting he can go close to topping Tendulkar's tally.
  • Hogg believes Root will be motivated to break Tendulkar's record, and it will be an interessing development to watch him try to achieve this.

Statistics:

  • Virat Kohli has scored 1669 runs in 9 matches at an average of 32.72.
  • Joe Root has scored 4579 runs in 49 Tests since 2021, with 17 centuries.
  • Root currently has 922 rating points and is the top-ranked ICC Test batter.
  • Tendulkar has 16,000 runs in 200 Test matches, with Root having 3519 runs behind him.
  • Root has scored 46% of his total Test runs since 2021, with 17 centuries.

Sources:

  • Brad Hogg (YouTube channel)
  • HT Digital Content Services with permission from Hindustan Times