Virat Kohli’s struggles in Test cricket continue to raise concerns, with the former Indian captain managing just 88 runs in four innings against New Zealand in the ongoing home series. The majority of his runs (70) came in a single innings, highlighting his ongoing difficulties in the red-ball format.
Former teammate Dinesh Karthik has suggested that Kohli may need to return to domestic cricket to regain his form. “What he needs to do is probably go back to domestic cricket,” Karthik said on a Cricbuzz show. “He is a man who is searching for answers.”
India’s 113-run defeat in Pune confirmed New Zealand’s historic maiden Test series victory in India. Kohli was dismissed by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner in both innings for scores of 1 and 17.
Karthik believes that left-arm spinners pose a significant threat to Kohli. “Virat Kohli has not had it easy,” he said. “The series has not been good to him; (in) three out of four innings he has disappointed. It’s obviously a recurring pattern where spinners have troubled him.”
Kohli’s Test record against spin has been underwhelming in recent years. “Virat Kohli’s Test record in the last 2-3 years has not been great against spin,” Karthik said.
The third and final Test of the series begins in Mumbai on November 1. Kohli will be hoping to end the series on a high and silence his critics.
