New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s struggles with the bat continued in India’s first Test against Bangladesh, held in Chennai, where he managed only 6 and 17 runs in the two innings. In the first innings, Kohli was caught chasing an off-stump delivery by Hasan Mahmud. In the second innings, his weakness against spin was once again exposed, as he was trapped LBW by Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Despite a visible UltraEdge spike on the replay, Kohli did not opt for a DRS review and had to depart with a disappointing score of 17. This dismissal highlighted his ongoing issues against spinners, especially in Asian conditions.
Across formats, Kohli’s form has taken a nosedive this year. In 15 matches and 17 innings, he has managed just 319 runs at an average of 18.76, with only one half-century. His Test average has now dipped to 48.74, the lowest it has been since November 2016. In the ongoing 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle, Kohli has scored 392 runs with a century and two fifties, but his overall Test performance since 2020 has been far below his previous standards.
Kohli’s lack of form is a major concern as India looks to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final. With critical matches coming up against New Zealand, Australia, and Bangladesh, India will need Kohli to return to his best if they hope to claim the WTC title.
In the match against Bangladesh, India ended day three with a lead of 308 runs, after Bangladesh’s top order collapsed, thanks to standout bowling performances from Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep. Ravichandran Ashwin’s century (113) and Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 86 helped India recover from an early top-order collapse.
