Kohli’s Struggles Continue in First Test Against Australia
Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli’s difficult form continued as he returned to Australia, a place where he has had so much success in the past. In the first innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opening Test, held in Perth on November 22, Kohli could only manage to score five runs.
Since arriving in Perth, Kohli has been the center of attention. Australian media outlets featured him prominently, and many former Australian cricketers praised him, despite his tough times in Test cricket this year. They warned their players to be cautious and avoid provoking Kohli, highlighting his competitive nature.
However, things did not go well for Kohli as he was dismissed early in the morning session. Facing Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood, he struggled during his short stay at the crease of just 12 balls. Kohli’s attempt to play aggressively, positioning himself outside the crease to tackle the bowlers’ movement, did not pay off. Hazlewood bowled a bouncer that climbed off the pitch, catching the edge of Kohli’s bat and leading to an easy catch for Usman Khawaja.
Cricket expert Ben Jones pointed out the risks of Kohli’s approach, noting it was the furthest he had ever strayed down the pitch in his Test career. Jones commented on Kohli’s tendency to push himself when under pressure and remarked on how challenging this was given his current form.
Although Kohli has an impressive average of over 50 and six centuries in Australia, he faces a tough series ahead. Earlier this year, he struggled to score just 93 runs during India’s disappointing 0-3 defeat at home against New Zealand, where he found it difficult to handle spin bowling.
India’s batting lineup faced trouble early in their innings, collapsing to 32 for 3 by the 17th over after winning the toss and choosing to bat. The Indian openers failed to find their rhythm, with Yashasvi Jaiswal getting out for a duck and Devdutt Padikkal also dismissed without scoring.
KL Rahul, however, showed resilience, mixing caution with aggression to help stabilize the innings and prevent a complete disaster in the first session.
As India fights to turn things around in the ongoing Test match, all eyes will be on Kohli to see if he can rediscover his form.
