‘Virat Kohli’s average dropped to 48 due to compliance…’: Ex-Indian batsman drops truth bomb after Adelaide debacle

Virat Kohli could not continue the momentum from his century in Perth as he fell cheaply in the first innings of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match in Adelaide. Caught in two minds about whether to defend or leave, Kohli ended up not really doing so as he tickled on from Mitchell Starc, with Steven Smith ending proceedings at slip.

It also recalled his dismissal in the first innings of the Perth Test and it reminded Indian fans of his recent struggles chasing deliveries outside the off-stump. Although he didn’t play an expansive stroke on this occasion, he fished something on a wider delivery and paid the price.

Former Indian cricketer and pundit Sanjay Manjrekar was not happy with Kohli falling to such a delivery yet again and mentioned how this was a recurring theme in the latter part of Kohli’s career and the Indian star batsman has failed to fight it in kind.

Taking to his handle on X, Manjrekar wrote: “A major reason why Virat’s average has dropped to 48 now is the unfortunate weakness outside. But more crucial is his conviction not to try another way to tackle it.”

Kohli played a fine cover drive in his short innings and while these drives are one of his strengths, they have also proved to be his downfall at times. Manjrekar had earlier commented on Kohli’s new-found struggle against shorter deliveries, pointing to an early front-foot pressure which had left him out of form when it came to dealing with deliveries climbing up at him.

India in trouble after losing 4 for 16 runs

Kohli’s dismissal came amid a pre-tea period in which Australia took 3-12 in a span of just 4 overs, causing a top-order collapse as KL Rahul, Kohli and Shubman Gill fell in quick succession after Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught leg-before on the first ball of the match against Starc.

Rohit Sharma came in lower down the order but was also caught LBW, this time by Scott Boland, leaving India at 87-5 after being in a strong position at 69-1 earlier in the day. India’s lower middle order now looks to rebuild and salvage the innings in what is likely to be the best batting conditions in the early part of the Test.