New Delhi: The standard of batting in Test cricket has diminished as even top batters like Virat Kohli are struggling in red-ball cricket, believe legendary West Indies pacer Andy Roberts.
Kohli has suffered a slump in form in recent years and despite scoring his 30th Test ton in India’s 295-run win over Australia in the opening match of the Border Gavaskar series, he was dismissed cheaply in two innings of the second Test at Adelaide as India lost by 10 wickets.
The former India skipper has exhibited technical deficiencies, as he has repeatedly caught behind the stumps to away going deliveries, falling in similar fashion in three of his four innings in the ongoing series in Australia.
Roberts said Kohli needs to bring his focus back to Test cricket, which is the only way the star can return to his heavy-scoring ways.
“I don’t know if there will be a revival after the Adelaide defeat, but get your batting right. One of your best batsmen of all-time has been struggling for the last five years,” Roberts told Mid-day.
“He needs to be focused on the longer version of the game. You will get runs and score heavily in Test cricket only when you are fully focused on the longer form. The standard of Test cricket is not the same. The top batsmen look as if they are struggling.”
Prolonged lean spell
Kohli’s dry spell with the bat has extended for close to five years. Since 2020, the right hander has managed 1961 runs in 64 innings of 36 matches at an average of 32.14 with only three centuries and nine fifties.
He arrived in Australia under mounting pressure after scoring only 93 runs in six innings of three Tests against new Zealand in India.
His unbeaten 100-run knock in the second innings of the Perth Test hinted at a turnaround but failure at perth has raised fresh questions.
Roberts said Kohli needs to bring his focus back to Test cricket, which is the only way the star can return to his heavy-scoring ways. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
