Virat Kohli’s ongoing struggles against spin bowling continued to haunt him in the second Test against New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune. On Friday, the Indian batting maestro was dismissed for a mere 1 by New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.
Kohli’s dismissal came when he misjudged a low full toss, failing to connect as the ball slipped under his bat and crashed into the stumps. The dismissal left Kohli visibly frustrated and marked the 21st time since 2021 that he has fallen to spin in Asia.
Kohli’s struggles against spin have become a recurring theme, particularly in Asian conditions. Earlier in the series, during the first Test in Bengaluru, Kohli was dismissed in similar fashion by New Zealand spinner Glenn Phillips. India went on to lose that match by 8 wickets, trailing the three-match series 0-1.
Kohli’s troubles against spin, especially left-arm orthodox spinners like Santner, have become a glaring concern. Since 2021, out of his 21 dismissals to spinners, 10 have been at the hands of left-arm orthodox bowlers, against whom he averages a meager 27.10.
In total, Kohli has managed just 606 runs against spinners during this period in Asian conditions, with an average of 28.85 – far below the high standards he set in his career.
As India battled to recover from New Zealand’s first-innings score of 259, Kohli’s early exit put the team in a difficult position. By lunch on the second day, India had slumped to 107/7, with the visitors’ spinners tightening their grip on the match. Kohli’s dismissal, in particular, exacerbated India’s struggles, as they sought to gain momentum in the series following their loss in the first Test.
Kohli’s struggles against spin have raised questions about his technique and adaptability to changing conditions. The Indian team management will be hoping that he can find a way to overcome this challenge and regain his dominance against spin bowling.
