Is Virat Kohli next to be dropped? Virat averages less than Burmah in First Innings since 2024

Virat Kohli has been going through a rough phase with the bat, where he is struggling to get runs and looking confused in the middle. His poor form continues as he got out after a rusty innings of 17 off 69 balls on Day 1 of the fifth test. He looked struggling, and you don't see Virat taking so many balls and not hitting a single boundary.

His form has declined drastically as compared to his numbers in 2023. He had an incredible year and scored runs consistently. But in 2024, he couldn't carry on that form. Virat played 23 matches across formats in 2024 and scored 655 runs at a below-par average of 21.83.

He only crossed the 50-run mark thrice in 32 innings. Even in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has scored only 184 runs in 8 innings, which also includes that unbeaten century in Perth. That means he has only scored 84 runs in the remaining seven innings.

Is it time to drop Virat Kohli after Rohit Sharma?

Similarly, the Indian captain also struggled with his form, and he decided to opt out of the fifth test. So, will we see something similar with the former Indian captain Virat Kohli? The Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has always advocated for preferring players who are in good form. That we saw when Rohit had to make way for Shubman Gill for the ongoing fifth test. So, is it time to drop Virat Kohli from the team?

The 36-year-old has retired from T20Is and is in the final phase of his career. On this Australian soil, he has struggled to play the balls outside off and continuously gotten out while poking at the ball. He has reached a stage where his batting average in the first innings of a test is even lower than Jasprit Bumrah's.

This is true; Bumrah is averaging more than India's premier batter since 2024 in the first innings of a test. Since 2024, Virat is averaging 7 in the first innings, which is the second-lowest for any batsman who has played five or more innings. Bumrah, who is known for the ball in hand, averages 8 in the first innings of a test.

These numbers certainly raise more concern about Virat's position in the team. If we look at the overall stats, South Africa's Keshav Maharaj (5.4) has the lowest average on this list; then it is Virat. These are some big signs that the Indian stalwart seems to have lost his confidence, and that too when the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is just a month away.

India will hope that Virat can get back to his best, as he will be an important player for the mega event. Speaking of his test form, India will play their next test after the SCG test in June. So, there is a long time to decide his place in test cricket.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah on the cusp of rewriting history; eyes two all-time bowling records in the final test at SCG