Caught on the off-side while driving away from his body. Dismissed leg before wicket by an incoming delivery.
So far in his Australian ODI experience, Virat Kohli has faced two innings, 12 balls, and recorded two ducks.
After an extensive career at the highest level, it is inevitable for someone like Kohli to experience repeated modes of dismissal. However, as he approaches the later stages of his prestigious career, concerns about his mindset and technique become more pronounced when similar dismissals reoccur.
Kohli has been dismissed 197 times in Test cricket, with 135 of those being catches, 15 bowled, and 41 leg before wicket. In ODIs, including his latest match against Australia, he has faced 21 leg-before dismissals, 34 bowled, and 174 caught, totaling 247 dismissals. While the high percentage of catches is not uncommon, the long gaps between matches at this point in his career make it challenging to address weaknesses that may have been easier to conceal before.
Kohli’s struggles with balls outside off-stump echo a persistent challenge, highlighted by his disappointing performance in England back in 2014. While he was able to recover from prior setbacks, the slower access to high-quality bowling in recent months means that overcoming these difficulties becomes increasingly complex.
Last winter in Australia, Kohli was dismissed eight times in five Tests, all behind the stumps, and his latest dismissal mirrored this trend. Previously known for his agility and reflexes at the crease, even a minor decline in these attributes can lead to unfavorable outcomes now.
His adjustment to play straighter in response to his recent dismissals has made him vulnerable to deliveries outside off-stump. Trying to play straight often leads to him closing the bat face, increasing the chance of edging the ball. The leg-before wicket dismissal he faced from Xavier Bartlett isn’t an isolated incident, suggesting a pattern that has emerged over time.
Kohli, with his profound understanding of the game, knows what changes are needed to tackle these challenges. Unfortunately, time is no longer in his favor, and limited playing opportunities hinder his ability to maintain competitive readiness. As he navigates these obstacles, it will be intriguing to observe both his mental and technical responses.
