Virat Kohli took six weeks off in the middle of 2022. That’s not normally headline news, but what’s happened since could be a key factor in the outcome of the Test series between Australia and India.
Prior to the break, Kohli hadn’t scored an international century in nearly three years. On his return, he peeled off an unbeaten 122 in a Twenty20 match against Afghanistan, followed by three hundreds in four matches in the ODI format.
While his Test match figures don’t make for pleasant reading – an average of 26.20 since the start of 2020 – all signs point towards the 34-year-old recapturing some of his former glory.
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“Ever since I came back from that long break, I have been feeling very good about my game,” he said recently.
“I don’t have that desperation anymore to get to a milestone. I am content with how I am playing, and that, for me, is the most important thing.
“I was just happy to be out there, to be batting, to be batting for as long as possible. In that space, I end up playing my best cricket.”
Kohli has slipped to 15th in the ICC Test batting rankings, but will be keen to atone for a horror series against Australia on home soil in 2017, where he averaged a paltry 9.20.
It once seemed impossible that Kohli could finish with a Test average under 50, given it stood at an imposing 55.10 in late 2019. It’s now at a still-formidable 48.90, a stark reminder of his struggles of late.
“There’s no doubt Virat Kohli is always vitally important for India’s chances, and on the flip-side, for Australia’s chances,” former Australian captain Mark Taylor told Wide World of Sports.
“I always suspect that Virat is inspired by the standard of cricket that he’s playing, and there’s no doubt he will see this series as a huge series for India.
“He’ll be switched on, and with that in mind, his wicket is going to be huge for Australia.”
Taylor noted that despite his struggles in recent years, Kohli’s wicket remains one of the most sought-after in world cricket.
“If Australia can keep Virat Kohli under wraps, not only will it keep India contained to a certain degree, it will keep the Indian crowd out of the game,” he said.
“If Kohli is on top, the crowd comes into play and things become very tough for Australia.”
The former skipper explained that Australia’s bowlers will require a different strategy on the subcontinent.
“The thing about bowling in India, not just to Kohli, is to be patient,” he said.
“You’ve got to attack the stumps to a certain degree, because if the pitches are like they normally are, which is not full of life, you’ve got to be looking to bring bowled and lbw into play.
“You can’t give away the stumps in India, but at the same time if you’re bowling at the stumps it’s hard to keep someone like Kohli quiet, because the Indians are very good players off their pads.
“I think what we’ll see is Australia not go overly attacking in terms of their field settings. You’re still trying to get wickets, but you’re also trying to dry up the boundaries.
“It’s a really hard balance to find.
“The great players, (Sachin) Tendulkar, (Sunil) Gavaskar, when they play at home, and they do well, the crowd ride with them,” Taylor added.
“We all know the passion of Indian cricket crowds.
“Kohli would be very aware of that, but in a way that also puts a bit of pressure on him, and Australia need to prey on that. Get him early, as they did in 2017, because he’s pivotal to India’s chances.”
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