Year | Mathces | Innings | Not out | Runs | Highest | Average | 100s | 50s | Strike Rate | 6s |
2023 | 35 | 36 | 5 | 2048 | 186 | 66.06 | 8 | 10 | 78.31 | 31 |
2024 | 15 | 17 | 0 | 319 | 76 | 18.76 | 0 | 1 | 95.79 | 8 |
TWO CONTRASTING PHASES OF TEST CAREER
A deep-dive into 35-year-old Kohli’s Test numbers in the last mile of his decorated Test career highlights a trend that possibly shows natural effects of an ageing body. However, Kohli’s table-topping 741 runs in the Indian Premier League earlier this year will contest that claim.
An interesting observation looking at Kohli’s numbers in Test cricket divided into two phases is how his consistency has taken a hit in the red-ball format.
Before Covid struck the world, Kohli had played 84 Tests and was an unstoppable force. But his stats in the next 34 Tests since 2020 don’t make a happy reading, considering the high standards he sets for himself.
Virat Kohli’s Test statistics in two phases:
Period | Tests | Innings | Not outs | Runs | Highest | Average | 100s | 50s | Strike Rate | 6s |
2011-2019 | 84 | 141 | 10 | 7202 | 254* | 54.97 | 27 | 22 | 57.81 | 22 |
2020 to till date | 30 | 52 | 1 | 1669 | 186 | 32.72 | 2 | 8 | 47.54 | 4 |
Overall | 114 | 193 | 11 | 8871 | 254* | 48.74 | 29 | 30 | 55.55 | 26 |
Does such drop in numbers bother players? The answer should be ‘yes’ if you are building your career, but possibly a ‘no’ when you are already a legend of the sport and have started to maintain work-life balance more with a targeted approach in the twilight of your playing career.
Ever since becoming a father, Kohli has evidently become very particular about that balance, taking a break from cricket whenever he sees a window available to be with his family. Limiting himself to two formats now (Tests and ODIs) instead of three will further facilitate that.
But there’s still some unfinished business for him.
After two painful consecutive defeats in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, the winner of the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup could possibly be targeting the elusive WTC title to complete the set before bidding adieu.
(Stats Courtesy: Rajesh Kumar)
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