December 6, 2024: Sanjay Manjrekar‘s criticism of Virat Kohli’s shot selection during the first innings of the second Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval has sparked some debate.
The former Indian cricketer pointed out that Kohli’s continued weakness against deliveries outside the off-stump is a significant reason behind the decline in his batting average. Manjrekar highlighted that Kohli’s “adamance” in not addressing this technical flaw has led to his struggles against balls in that area, which often result in edges to slips or the wicketkeeper.
Manjrekar, who has been vocal about such technical issues in the past, took to X (formerly Twitter) after the dismissal, stating:
“One important reason why Virat’s average has slipped to 48 now, is the unfortunate weakness outside off. But more crucially his adamance to not try another way to tackle it.”
In the first innings, Kohli was dismissed cheaply for just seven runs off Mitchell Starc’s bowling. The delivery that got him out was a length ball outside the off-stump, which bounced awkwardly. Kohli, caught in two minds, hesitated between playing and leaving the ball, ultimately deflecting it to Steve Smith at slips. It was a soft dismissal, one that reflected his ongoing battle with deliveries outside the off-stump.
This observation follows a broader trend in Kohli’s recent struggles. While he remains one of the modern greats, his performances since 2020 have been below his usual standards, especially in the longer format. Since the start of 2020, Kohli’s batting average in Test cricket has dipped significantly—from nearly 55 at the end of 2019 to 47.91 now. In 120 Tests, Kohli has scored 9,152 runs, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, but his recent numbers tell a different story.
From 2020 onwards, he has scored just 1,950 runs in 36 Tests and 63 innings at a sub-par average of 32.50. His recent century tally has also dropped, with only three centuries since 2020, compared to his prolific run-scoring earlier. This year, in eight Tests, Kohli has managed only 362 runs at an average of 27.84, with a solitary century (100*) to his name.
Kohli’s struggles against deliveries outside the off-stump are well-documented. The Indian batter has frequently been dismissed attempting cover drives or loose shots outside off, a shot that has been a hallmark of his batting over the years. However, the issue with deliveries in that region has become more pronounced in recent times, contributing to his decline in average.
As for the match, India had a rough start after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a golden duck on the first ball, and though KL Rahul (37) and Shubman Gill (31) fought back with a 69-run partnership, India kept losing wickets regularly. Nitish Kumar Reddy (42) and Ravichandran Ashwin (22) showed some resistance, but it wasn’t enough to mount a significant recovery.
Mitchell Starc was the standout bowler for Australia, taking a remarkable 6/48, with Pat Cummins and Scott Boland each picking up two wickets.
Kohli’s dismissal adds to the mounting concerns about his form in Test cricket, but his track record over the years means that a return to form could happen at any time. However, addressing the weakness outside off-stump seems like a crucial area for improvement if he is to reclaim his consistency in the longest format.
