Former India opener Aakash Chopra analyzed Virat Kohli's declining numbers over the last five years. Looking at the numbers, Chopra called in chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir to form a clear plan for Kohli's future in Test cricket.
Virat Kohli has not been in great form with the bat in recent years in the longest format of the game. His poor form continued in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he scored just 190 runs in five Tests at an average of 23.75.
There have been calls about his retirement after the disappointing returns, however, the veteran has not given any indication of that so far. With India set to play its next Test match in June 2025, pressure is mounting on Kohli to take a final call on his career.
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Aakash Chopra calls for 'clear pattern' of Virat Kohli's future in Tests
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra analyzed Virat Kohli's numbers from the last five years and before this period. There was a strong contrast in both phases. While Kohli was a beast in the red-ball format once, his numbers have started to decline in recent years.
“This (Kohli's numbers from the last five years) is a big sample size. The selectors have to decide now. There is no Test cricket until the England series, so Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir have to come up with a clear plan for the future” , Chopra said. said.
The form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is a big worry for Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir. It remains to be seen how the team management handles this difficult situation.
Virat Kohli's figures from last five years
In the last five years, Virat Kohli has averaged just 30.72 in 39 Tests. He has scored only three hundreds during this period, one of them coming in the recent Test series against Australia.
The figures are a stark contrast to his overall career statistics, where he scored over 9,000 runs at an average of over 46 with 30 hundreds. At one point, Kohli was averaging over 50 in Test cricket, but the numbers have plummeted in the post-Covid era.
Virat Kohli is still a beast in the white ball format
While his numbers have dipped in Test cricket, Virat Kohli is still a beast in white-ball cricket. The 36-year-old recently top-scored in the IPL 2024 season with 741 runs in 15 matches at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69.
He also played a key role in India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 with a man-of-the-match performance in the final against South Africa. After the tournament, he retired from the T20I format. He was also the highest run-getter in the ODI World Cup 2023 and played a vital role in India's run to the final.
Virat Kohli will have a big role to play in the upcoming Champions Trophy where he will be one of the biggest players in the tournament. The 36-year-old has been a very consistent player in ODIs, which is also his preferred format.