NEW DELHI: Legendary Australian spinner Brad Hogg suggested that Virat Kohli’s recent struggles in Test cricket stem from his inability to keep his emotions in check while batting.
Hogg’s tirade came on the back of Kohli’s dismal show in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, and with India set to embark on a crucial tour of Australia to play five-Test series in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on November 22 in Perth.
In 2024, Virat Kohli has scored 245 runs across five Tests and ten innings so far, averaging 27.22, with only one fifty and a top score of 70.
However, in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (2023-25), Kohli has shown greater consistency, amassing 556 runs in eight Tests at an average of 42.76. This includes a century and three fifties across 14 innings, with a best score of 121.
The 53-year-old pointed out that the former Indian captain was excessively scrutinizing his performance during the initial two Test matches of the New Zealand series.
“They took New Zealand too lightly and they are trying to play catch-up cricket. All of a sudden, you saw that mindset shift with Virat Kohli in the first innings of the second Test match. He was more aggressive, the way he strolled out there, the way that he was trying to attack the bowling. He just looked like he was overanalyzing.
He looked as if he wasn’t in control of his emotions and it showed in the shot that he played when he got out. If you look at the technique of Rohit Sharma to Southee, he’s going to have to be a little bit tighter. Virat Kohli has to switch on from ball one,” Hogg said on his YouTube channel.
The second Test, set for December 6-10 at Adelaide Oval, will bring the excitement of a day-night format under the stadium lights. Following this, fans will turn their attention to the third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, scheduled for December 14-18.
The series will then move to the iconic Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, running from December 26-30, marking the penultimate chapter of the series.
Finally, the fifth and concluding Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3-7, setting the stage for a thrilling series finale.