NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli‘s recent difficulties with the bat have become a focal point ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh, starting on Friday.
In the first Test in Chennai, Kohli only scored 6 and 17 runs, sparking concerns about his current form. This match was Kohli’s first Test outing of the year, following his absence from the five-match series against England for personal reasons.
Kohli’s challenges continued to show during a net session at Green Park Stadium, where he struggled against both pace and spin.Indian Express reported that Kohli had a tough time facing India’s top pacer Jasprit Bumrah in a 15-ball spell. Initially, Kohli appeared confident, hitting a few strokes, but Bumrah soon gained the upper hand. Bumrah managed to beat Kohli four times, including forcing an edge and hitting Kohli’s pads, prompting Bumrah to shout, “saamne laga hai (You are plumb).”
Bumrah teased Kohli further after another delivery, saying, “Aakhiri wala toh short leg ka catch tha (The last one would have been caught at short leg).” Kohli responded with a smile, acknowledging his difficulties.
Kohli’s struggles were even more noticeable against India’s spin trio — Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. While facing Jadeja, Kohli tried to play inside-out but missed the ball three consecutive times, visibly showing his frustration. In his final practice session, Axar Patel bowled him out, indicating Kohli’s ongoing difficulties with spin.
As India gears up for the second Test, all eyes will be on Kohli to see how he adjusts and performs. Fans are eager to see if the talented batter can regain his form and make a significant contribution to the team in the long Test season ahead.