November 19, 2024: Shane Watson’s comments on Virat Kohli’s form and intensity highlight the ongoing challenges the Indian batsman has faced in recent years, especially in red-ball cricket. Kohli’s dip in form, particularly since 2020, has been a topic of much discussion, given his earlier dominance in all formats of the game. Watson, who has had a close view of Kohli’s career, points out that it’s the intensity with which Kohli approaches each ball that has made him a force to reckon with in the past.
According to Watson, Kohli’s intensity is what has often set him apart—his drive and energy on the field have been almost “superhuman.” However, maintaining such a level of intensity over an extended period can be draining, and Watson suggests that Kohli might have struggled to sustain that fire recently. This, in turn, has contributed to his lean patch in Test cricket, where he has struggled to consistently convert his starts into big scores.
Watson’s warning to the Australian team is also interesting. He mentions that if Kohli manages to rediscover that intensity, he could be unstoppable. In other words, if Kohli brings his characteristic fire to the series, it would spell trouble for the Australian bowlers, and they should hope he doesn’t do so. Kohli’s best performances have often come when he’s at his most intense and focused, so a lack of that intensity could lead to a more vulnerable version of him.
It seems that the key for Kohli will be finding that balance between regaining his intensity without burning himself out. If he can find that spark once again, the cricket world could witness the resurgence of one of its most formidable players in the longest format of the game.
The upcoming Test series in Perth will be pivotal not just for Kohli’s career, but also in the context of the World Test Championship standings. Both teams will be looking to assert dominance, making Kohli’s potential return to form all the more crucial for India’s prospects.
