Virat Kohli's Struggles Against Spin Raise Concerns as India Faces Historic Defeat
The series defeat raised eyebrows among cricket analysts, particularly regarding India's top-order batting struggles against spin. Kohli, alongside fellow batsmen Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, was unable to find his footing against the New Zealand spinners.
Virat Kohli's performance against spinners has become a significant point of concern, especially in light of his average of just 28.59 against them in Asia since 2021. This issue was starkly highlighted during India's recent series against New Zealand, where the home side suffered a historic eight-wicket defeat in Pune, marking India's first loss on home soil in 12 years.
In Bengaluru, New Zealand's fast bowlers thrived in the rainy conditions, taking 17 of the 20 wickets to secure their victory. However, it was in Pune, where India opted for a spin-friendly pitch, that the tables turned dramatically. New Zealand's spin attack, spearheaded by Mitchell Santner, proved too effective for the Indian batsmen. Santner recorded a remarkable five-wicket haul in both innings, contributing to his team's success in capturing 18 wickets throughout the match and sealing the series.
The series defeat raised eyebrows among cricket analysts, particularly regarding India's top-order batting struggles against spin. Kohli, alongside fellow batsmen Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, was unable to find his footing against the New Zealand spinners. Kohli's dismissal at the hands of left-arm spinner Santner in both innings highlighted his ongoing difficulties with this style of bowling.
In a post-match discussion on Star Sports, former selector Sunil Joshi voiced his frustrations regarding the lack of adaptation from India’s top-order batsmen. He questioned why players like Rohit, Kohli, and Gill have not opted to play domestic cricket to hone their skills against spin. “We have forgotten how to plan against spin. If our spinners can script victories at home, our batters should learn how to tackle spin as well. When will we see our top-order batters return to domestic cricket? If you don’t play domestic cricket, you won’t be able to face spinners effectively,” Joshi remarked.
He further emphasized the historical importance of domestic cricket in shaping successful international players, stating, “In the past, every big player would play a few matches in domestic cricket before transitioning to Test cricket. Why can’t our top-order players do that? Playing domestic cricket is not easy; it poses its own challenges.”
As the cricketing world reflects on India's struggles, the call for a return to fundamentals and domestic play grows louder, especially as the team prepares for future challenges against international spinners.
