Five Occasions When Virat Kohli Failed To Do Well In Must-Win Encounters

Jun 18, 2020 at 10:01 AM

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Five Occasions When Virat Kohli Failed To Do Well In Must-Win Encounters

Fondly known as the ‘chase master’ and ‘run-machine’, Virat Kohli, undoubtedly, is the best batsman in the cricket world. His batting records across all the formats speaks volumes about his batting juggernaut. The aggressive player averages 50 in all the formats.

As of now, he has the most number of ODI centuries. Overall, the hard-hitting batsman has more than 21,000 runs in international cricket(across all formats).

But his last performance, in New Zealand pitches, has let us ponder about his performance in the do or die state of the game.

Interestingly, there have been instances when Virat Kohli has failed to deliver in such situations. And because of his failure, India has also lost many crucial games.

Here in this article, we have listed five occasions in which Kohli has failed to deliver. Let’s take a look.

Five Occasions when Virat Kohli failed to do well in must-min matches:

Australia vs India in Sydney, 2015 World Cup semi-final:

Virat Kohli, ICC T20 Rankings, India

Team India, famously, reaches in almost every semi-final and final of the Cricket World Cup.

Similarly, in 2015, India was looking unbeatable as they have reached the semi-finals after consecutively winning seven games. Their fielding and bowling unit was praised during the whole tournament. India’s pace attack was rated as one of the best in the competition.

Disappointingly, they were not up to the mark against Australia in the semi-finals. The host Australia has set the target of 329 runs at the loss of seven wickets.

India had a good start with Rohit and Dhawan setting up a partnership of 76 runs for the first wicket. But soon Australia’s pacer turned the scenario of the game. The Men in Blue consecutively lost their three wickets including Virat Kohli who scored just one run off 13 balls. He top-edged a short-pitched delivery off Mitchell Johnson to Brad Haddin behind the stumps.

However, India tried hard to save the game but it was not the day for India.

India vs New Zealand in Manchester, 2019 World Cup semi-final:

Virat Kohli, India

Cricket World Cup 2019 was the first as the captain for Virat Kohli. This time again India entered the semi-finals only losing a match before in the event. They were favourites to lift the World Cup title because as a unit they have performed outstandingly in the whole tournament.

India was first time facing New Zealand in the tournament. Virat Kohli and men had the upper hand in the game as they halted the Kiwis for 239 runs.

A rain-interrupted match was continued the next day. While chasing the target, it was a nightmare for India as they lost their three-wicket within five overs. Virat Kohli could again manage only a single in the second successive World Cup knockout game.

The allrounder Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni brought the momentum back in the game. But they fell short of 18 runs and again a dream to lift the World Cup trophy was shattered.

India vs Australia, 5th ODI, Delhi, 2019:

India vs Australia 2019: 5th ODI, Delhi - Match Preview
Photo Credit: BCCI.

Australia had arrived in India after facing defeat at home in the ODI series as well as Test series. They took the revenge of the defeat as they beat India at their home in the one day contest as well as T20I. Importantly, Aaron Finch led side was playing without the crucial player Steve Smith and David Warner.

India started the series with winning note, registering victory in back to back ODI matches. But soon the visitor turned the game. Australia won the next two games in the five-match ODI series, levelling the series with 2-2. Now, the last ODI match was the decider of the series. The visitors set 273 for India to win after electing to bat first in the fifth ODI.

The ‘chase-master’ Virat Kohli gave his wicket cheaply for 20 runs. Eventually, India lost the game by 35 runs, also, losing the ODI series with a 2-3 margin.

India vs England, 3rd Test, 2012, Kolkata:

Virat Kohli, Super V
Photo Credit: BCCI.

In that year, Virat Kohli was not as an established player which he is now. It has been only four years for Virat Kohli in international cricket.

England toured India to play three-match Test series where the host had already got the lead after winning the first Test.

The visitors bounced back in the game and won the first Test by 10 wickets. So, the third Test of the series was crucial for the team. In the first innings, Kohli could only make six runs. He could not do much in the next innings as well. He was out for 20 runs and India could not set a big total. If he had batted for longer, the host might have got a big lead.

However, England won the series by 2-1 in the four-match Test series.

New Zealand vs India, 2nd Test, 2020, Christchurch

Virat Kohli, India, New Zealand vs India 2020
Photo Credit: BCCI.

Last year, after defeating Australia at their home, Virat Kohli and men were labelled as the best Test team who was called as unbeatable in any condition. But the team’s strength was tested in the recently concluded Two match Test series. The visitors were fully exposed in front of Kiwi’s dangerous bowling attack.

We expected them to bounce back after facing the defeat in the first Test. But they didn’t.

The batters were struggling till the end of the day to set themselves in the New Zealand pitches.

The Indian skipper was also tested in these pitches. He returned with the scores of 2,19, 3 and 14 in four innings. The aggressive player couldn’t even touch the mark of 20 runs.

In the second Test match, when India had lost the top order, the fans were expecting Kohli to do some magic. They were expecting him to justify the names India has earned as the Test team. But the captain was tricked by pacers. The average of 9.50 in the Test series is also his second-lowest in a Test series in his 86-Test career.

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