In the tests that Kohli took during this WTC cycle, his No. 4 scored 1337 runs, averaging 49.51 runs per game. In contrast, Kohli only scored 932 runs, with an average of 32.
Warning: The following may cause you to become a blind fan. However, continue reading to test it, perhaps? Numbers are funny, especially in a sport like cricket.
Additionally, they tell a story each time. It all depends on how the numbers are presented and, of course, how they are interpreted, whether they are onerous or one that makes you smile right away.
Take, for instance, Virat Kohli’s performance in the World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle. With 932 runs, he became India’s leading run scorer.
He still managed to score more runs in the recently concluded WTC cycle than any Indian batter, despite all the criticism. True, but in what ways did it benefit India?
To be honest, very little.
Let’s look further. Kohli won 17 matches to score 932 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara was the only other Indian batter to play in as many matches during this WTC cycle.
What was his score? The second-most is 928. In comparison to Rishabh Pant’s (868 runs in 12 matches at an average of 43.40), captain Rohit Sharma’s (758 runs in 11 matches.
At an average of 42.11), and even Ravindra Jadeja’s (721 runs in 13 matches at an average of 36.04), Kohli and Pujara’s averages were 32.13 and 32, respectively.
India’s disappointing number of batters in this WTC cycle may have been largely due to the quality of the opposition and spin-friendly domestic tracks.
The pattern pretty much stayed the same until the final against Australia at The Oval, where India scored only 296 and 235 on a pitch where Australia scored 469 runs in a row and declared their second innings at 270/8.
The performance of India’s top-order is another crucial aspect in this situation. In the past few years, India has lost 15 matches by four wickets and less than 100 runs.
Their lower order, including Pant, Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and to some extent Axar Patel, has helped them reach a respectable total in their innings.
What caused India’s poor batting performance in WTC 2021-23, Virat Kohli?
Another telling statistic emerges from further reflection on the batting position. Even though India’s top order has posted poor numbers, they have performed better than their opponents (on average) at every batting position except No. 4, where Kohli bats.
In this WTC cycle, India’s openers (primarily Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill) averaged 35, while the opposition’s openers averaged 30.4 against India.
India’s average at No. 3, where Pujara bats most, is 31.68. It’s 30.79 for the opposition. Keep in mind that Australia’s No. 3 batsman and current No. 1 Test batter, Marnus Labuschagne, has performed better than Pujara in India-Australia matches.
The average for India is 37.18, with Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer sharing the No. 5 spot most of the time.
Against India, the opposition’s No. 5 average is just 30.5. During this WTC cycle, India’s No. 6 and No. 7 averaged 30.5 and 31.1, respectively, while their counterparts only averaged 27.56 and 16.7.
What then is the issue? Why are we putting the onus of underperformance on the Indian batters?
The catch is this: The batter at No. 4, which is typically reserved for the team’s biggest star, has made all the difference. Virat Kohli has struggled in that area.
Soham Sarkhel’s chart shows that India’s No. 4 has averaged 31.96 points, while the opposition’s No. 4 has averaged 45.58 points.
All of the minor gains made by Indian batsmen in other positions have been wiped out by the huge difference of -13.62.
Virat Kohli is a long way behind Joe Root and Steve Smith in Tests involving Kohli. 4 scored 1337 runs, averaging 49.51 runs per game. In contrast.
Kohli has only scored 932 runs, an average of 32. In this WTC cycle, opposition No. 4 averaged 61.63 overall if we exclude Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Over the past four years, India’s primary concern has been Kohli’s Test form. In 2020, his average was only 19.33.
From that point forward, has shown continuous upgrades consistently, scoring 536 runs in 11 Tests in 2021 at a normal of 28, and 265 runs in 6 Tests in 2022 at a normal of 27 out of 2022.
However, it still fell far short of his high standards. Except for South Africa’s Hashim Amla’s final two years in international cricket.
No Test batter has ever scored more than 8000 runs in two consecutive seasons with an average of less than 30 after playing 50 Tests.
Kohli has started the year 2023 well. In his five Tests thus far, he has scored 360 runs. This year also saw him score his first century in a Test since 2020, albeit on what might have been the smoothest surface to bat on in Ahmedabad against Australia.
In the second inning of the WTC final, he showed signs of greatness but was dismissed with a hasty shot.
This WTC cycle, Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who also bats at No. 4, has the highest average (69.10). In 20 innings, he has scored four centuries. Steve Smith comes in at number two on the list with an average of 55.40. In contrast.
Joe Root finished WTC with an average of 54.20. In this second WTC, Sri Lanka veteran Angelo Mathews batted at No. 4 and scored two centuries in 16 innings, averaging 48.
Even though Kohli is still far from his best and is still far behind his teammates Joe Root and Steve Smith, India would hope that changes after the tour of the West Indies.