WI vs IND: Strategies for Virat Kohli to Keep his Test Average Past 50

Renowned Indian cricketer and former captain Virat Kohli is eagerly preparing to face the West Indian pacers in the upcoming Test series in the Caribbean. This two-match series will commence in Dominica on June 12, the same venue where Virat played his first Test match in 2011.

Since then, Kohli has experienced a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. He has witnessed remarkable achievements as a batsman and a captain but has also faced challenging periods and a prolonged dip in form. For nearly 2.5 years, he struggled to score a Test century, despite delivering some impressive innings during that time. The gap between two notable performances was filled with disappointing low scores.

One of the significant factors contributing to his declining average is the highly demanding pitches India has played on in the past two years. However, considering Kohli’s stature as a player, his expectations remain high for overcoming such challenges.

Kohli’s Test average has been a subject of discussion over the past two years, as it has decreased to just below 48.73 from his previous peak of 54. Nevertheless, this year has shown promising signs of a resurgence for the right-handed batsman. He emerged as India’s leading scorer in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023, concluding the series with an impeccable and patient innings of 186 in Ahmedabad. This century marked his 28th Test hundred and his first since November 2019.

With an average of 45 in eight innings this year, Kohli has showcased glimpses of his former self, although his standout performance in Ahmedabad heavily influenced this figure. While he displayed good form during the World Test Championship final against Australia last month, he again fell short of converting a start into a substantial score.

As the West Indies tour approaches, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Virat can surpass the 50-run average mark once again. He would need to score 421 runs in four innings to achieve this milestone. Considering the nature of Caribbean tracks in the past five years and the formidable West Indian pace attack, this task appears challenging. However, Kohli has repeatedly proven to be no stranger to conquering seemingly insurmountable challenges.