Virat Kohli’s recent form in Test cricket has raised concerns, with inconsistent performances affecting his spot. His inability to adapt to various conditions, prolonged lean patches, and the emergence of younger, promising players are key reasons to consider his exclusion. Despite his legacy, India needs fresh talent to strengthen their Test lineup.
Virat Kohli has scored just three Test centuries since the year 2020.
Virat Kohli made his Test debut in 2011, but after a series of underwhelming performances, he began to showcase his talent during the 2011/12 tour of Australia, with two remarkable innings that solidified his place at the highest level.
Over time, Kohli grew into a more consistent performer, and by 2014, cricketing legend Martin Crowe included him in the ‘Fab 4’ of the current generation.
After a tough 2014 tour of England, Kohli bounced back spectacularly. By 2016, he had surpassed his contemporaries, Kane Williamson and Joe Root, and was competing with only Steve Smith as the world’s best Test batsman.
During Steve Smith’s year-long ban in 2018-19, Kohli rose to new heights, dominating the game like no other. Between 2015 and 2019, he averaged a staggering 62 in Test cricket and amassed 18 centuries in 52 matches.
However, Kohli’s form began to fade from the 2020/21 series onward. Since then, his centuries have become increasingly rare—just three hundreds in 65 innings, with each heavily influenced by external factors. This has led to growing calls for his exclusion from India’s Test squad.
With India’s batting struggles continuing in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy following a 0-3 home defeat to New Zealand, discussions about Virat Kohli’s place in the team have intensified, with valid concerns being raised.
3 reasons why Virat Kohli should be dropped from the Indian test team:
Dismal form
Since 2020, Kohli has averaged just 31 in 37 Test matches, with three centuries and nine fifties. Notably, one of these centuries came on a flat pitch in Ahmedabad, another against a lackluster West Indies bowling attack, and the third after the top three had already batted for 84 overs.
Failure to rectify weakness against outside off-stump
While the frustration of Virat Kohli’s repeated dismissals in Test cricket is apparent to fans, the real challenge for Kohli himself lies in the consistent pattern of his dismissals: deliveries outside the off-stump.
In the past, it would take bowlers to be accurate and persistent on the fifth and sixth stump line to get Kohli out, forcing him into an edge. However, in recent times, Kohli has been caught chasing balls even farther outside, reaching as far as the seventh or eighth stump line, playing loosely at deliveries that are more distant than before.
The fact that he continues to be drawn into these dismissals without significantly adjusting his approach over time is telling. This issue doesn’t seem to be a mere tactical oversight, but rather a sign of mental impatience. At 36, it’s unlikely that he will suddenly develop the consistency needed to overcome this flaw.
Groom a new No. 4 who can tackle the new ball well
Whether at home or abroad, with pitches offering substantial assistance to the bowlers, openers are more prone to dismissals, making survival a greater challenge. Virat Kohli, who often comes in early when wickets fall, has struggled to rescue the team from such situations.
His significant innings over the last five years have largely come after the top three have faced a substantial number of overs, weathered the new ball, and survived a few bowler spells. This has given Kohli the opportunity to capitalize on a more settled platform. However, as a senior batsman, he is expected to guide the team through tough periods when early wickets fall—a role he has failed to fulfill in recent years.
The Indian Test team is currently in a phase of transition, with a few senior players nearing the end of their careers. As a top-tier athlete, it is understandable that Kohli believes this is just a temporary slump, but a prolonged lean patch of five years is concerning. The selectors may need to consider a new No. 4 batsman, one who possesses the temperament and skill to handle the challenges posed by the moving new ball.