Stats: The Impact Of Virat Kohli’s Absence On Dharamsala Test
Mar 25, 2017 at 7:35 PM
Indian fans were left dejected when it was finally clarified that India would be without its skipper Virat Kohli for the all-important 4th Test against Australia. And, when the stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and Steve Smith walked out for the toss, it was official that Virat Kohli would be out of a Test starting XI since 2011 which sums up to 5 long years.
Ever since becoming a Test regular Virat Kohli hasn’t missed a match. The time goes back to 14th November 2011 (the last time when the 28-year-old missed a Test match) and Kohli has risen spectacularly from then onwards and now leads India in all three formats.
Not missing a Test for such a long period is a great feat, especially in an era where the schedules are tight with very less rest period. But, while Kohli got better of external factors and fatigue through strict fitness regime, he had to eventually sit out due to an injury inflicted due to a fielding blunder in the 3rd Test at Ranchi.
Kohli, who made his debut on June 20th, 2011 in West Indies against the hosts, played 55 Tests straight until the Dharamsala Test came knocking (excluding the four-Test series in England where he toured with the team but did not play a single Test).
So, technically, India has been with without Kohli only six times overall since his arrival in the Test squad. The record isn’t really good in the matches in which he didn’t feature. Out of these six Tests, India won two (against West Indies) while losing four (against England). On all these occasions, there was not a single time when he had was left out due to selection issue and not because he was unfit.
India’s tour of England in 2011 was the first time (and the last time) he was dropped from the Test XI despite being in the squad. While he didn’t get a single game, Indian ended up suffering a humiliating 0-4 whitewash. The losing streak began with a heavy 196 run defeat at Lord’s followed by another huge 319 runs loss. Things continued to worsen for India as England maintained their dominance by scripting victories by innings margin in the remaining two matches of the series.
Later, Kohli was not picked in the first two Tests of the home series against West Indies a couple of months later. India comfortably won both the matches by 5 wickets and by an innings and 15 runs.
INDIA’s RESULTS IN THE LAST 5 TESTS VIRAT KOHI HAS NOT PLAYED (Starting from the latest):
OPPONENT | VENUE | YEAR | RESULT (FOR INDIA) |
WEST INDIES | Kolkata | 14th November 2011 | Won |
WEST INDIES | Delhi | 6th November 2011 | Won |
ENGLAND | Oval | 18th August 2011 | Loss |
ENGLAND | Birmingham | 10 August 2011 | Loss |
ENGLAND | Nottingham | 29 July 2011 | Loss |
ENGLAND | Lord’s | 21 July 2011 | Loss |
To derive a conclusion out of the matches in which he didn’t feature would seem quite illogical as he missed these matches before becoming Test regular and since has been consistently playing all the matches. The Dharamsala Test is the first time ever when Team India will be without its star batsman. The impact of his absence will surely be felt by the unit.
The Dharamsala Test is the first time ever when Team India will be without its star batsman. The impact of his absence will surely be felt by the unit. The series was an unfruitful for him and a huge knock from his side was due. Fans expected him to come up with the special in the high octane fixture as everyone knows the intensity with which Kohli performs under such situations where the series is on the line.