In another disheartening turn for Indian cricket, veteran batter Virat Kohli found himself dismissed caught behind yet again, raising questions about his form as he grapples with a disappointing average of 24.52 in 2024. His wife, actress Anushka Sharma, was captured on camera sporting a concerned expression, which quickly went viral across social media platforms. As the Indian team trails 2-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Kohli is under intense scrutiny to deliver in the crucial final Test, with captain Jasprit Bumrah looking for his star player to step up.
Kohli’s latest dismissal saw him edge a delivery outside the off stump, a familiar scenario as this marked the seventh time he has been caught behind in this series. After scoring a century in the second innings of the Perth Test, Kohli’s recent performances have left much to be desired, with his runs tally remaining strikingly low.
Understandably frustrated with his performance, Kohli’s disappointment was palpable, but it was Anushka’s reaction that caught the eye of fans and media alike. As she shook her head in dismay, it became a poignant moment emblematic of the pressures faced by elite athletes.
At 36, Kohli is nearing the twilight of his career, having recently announced his retirement from T20 format. This year, he has managed to score only 417 runs over 19 innings, averaging a mere 24.52, which is alarmingly concerning considering his storied past.
In the opening innings at Sydney, Kohli occupied the crease for 69 deliveries but could only muster 17 runs before being dismissed. Alarmingly, his average has slipped to a dismal 7 in first innings of Tests since 2024, placing him among the lowest-performing batters in that timeframe. As a comparison, Jasprit Bumrah, the team captain, has a slightly better first innings average of 10.
With captain Rohit Sharma already ruled out due to his own form issues, the pressure mounts on Kohli, often dubbed the ‘King’ of Indian cricket, to respond and deliver in the second innings of the match. Although India has lost the chance to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they can still vie for glory by leveling the series in this last encounter in Sydney.
