Virat Kohli has not scored an international hundred since November 2019 and averages less than 25 in 10 Tests since the start of the 2020 cricket season. However, former wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer played down concerns over the India captain’s batting form.
Virat Kohli Is Expected To Score A Ton Every Time He Bats: Farokh Engineer
Farokh Engineer’s comments come even as Virat Kohli is suffering a lean patch in international cricket. The India captain got out for a duck in the first Test but managed to play two crucial knocks in the 2nd Test at Lords, managing 42 and 20.
However, Virat Kohli has not scored a hundred in international cricket since he got one in the day-night Test against Bangladesh in 2019. In 10 Tests since 2020, Virat Kohli has scored 407 runs at an average of 23.94 which is well below his career average of 51.41.
Farokh Engineer pointed out how Joe Root has been able to consistently score the big runs but his opposition captain has been struggling to do so.
“He is one of the finest batsmen in the world today. I would say ‘one of them’ because he has been getting the runs that he is used to getting. Joe Root, on the other hand, is getting a lot of runs,” Farokh Engineer said.
“Well, a player of Virat Kohli’s caliber, every time he walks onto the pitch, we expect a hundred from him. Virat is human after all. We human beings make mistakes. There is a lot of elements of luck also when you play and miss. You either miss or get an edge. Unfortunately, he has been getting the nicks and getting caught out.”
“I wouldn’t blame him. He is still a great player. And he doesn’t go down in my opinion. He is still getting 40s and 50s. He is a class player.”
Nonetheless, Farokh Engineer believes Virat Kohli’s body language while leading India has been spot on as the former wicketkeeper praised the skipper’s aggression.
Virat Kohli’s Aggression Is Good For Indian Cricket: Farook Engineer
Virat Kohli led from the front in the Lord’s Test as India bounced back from a difficult situation to seal an emphatic 151-run win. India needed only 51.5 overs to bowl England out for 120 in the last two sessions of a pulsating Test match at the iconic venue in London.
“His aggression is good for Indian cricket because I am the one who started giving it back to them. I am proud of people like Virat, they are standing up to these Englishmen and giving it back to them exactly where it hurts them,” Farokh Engineer added.
Virat Kohli will be hoping to return to peak form when India and England meet in the 3rd of the 5-match Test series at Headingley in Leeds on August 25.
Virat Kohli is having an off-form with the bat recently in Tests but his captaincy tactics have been spot on and his aggressive instinct has given India many Test wins of late. For Joe Root, it’s just the opposite as he is in the form of his life but his team has lost to New Zealand and India recently.