Five Instances When Virat Kohli Failed To Do Well In Must-Win Matches
Published - 02 Mar 2020, 01:03 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:04 AM
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There is no doubt that Virat Kohli is one of the greatest batsmen in the present era to play the game. His numbers across formats all over the world are undebatable. The Indian captain also remains the frontrunner – to break most of the batting records that have stayed unbreached till date. It is the speed and appetite with which Kohli amasses runs that easily makes him one of the best cricketers to pick up the bat.
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Nevertheless, the 31-year old’s ability has come into question when playing in knockout games or do-or-die clashes.
Historically, there have been better batsmen than Kohli when it comes to delivering in such matches. And due to the failure of one of their India’s best batsmen in their ranks, they often end up on the losing side.
We take a look at five do-or-die occasions in which Virat Kohli failed to deliver:
Australia vs India in Sydney, 2015 World Cup semi-final:
India reached the semi-final on the back of winning seven consecutive matches. But they were up against hosts Australia in the massive clash, whom they hadn’t beaten even once during that summer. And predictably, it had to be a herculean effort, to beat them after they amassed 328, opting to bat first.
India were off to a perfect start, having put on 76 for the opening wicket by Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.
However, after that, India lost three wickets rapidly to leave themselves reeling in the chase. Their ace batsman Kohli could manage only a single off 13 balls as he top-edged a short-pitched delivery off Mitchell Johnson to Brad Haddin behind the stumps.
India vs New Zealand in Manchester, 2019 World Cup semi-final:
India entered the 2019 World Cup as one of the favourites, to lift the coveted trophy. Their only defeat came against England, walking into the semi-final while their opponents New Zealand sustained losses to Australia, Pakistan, and England. India were clear favourites to win the bout.
The Kiwis, led by crucial knocks from Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, posted 239 on the board. While chasing, India lost three wickets inside five overs for less than ten runs. Virat Kohli could again manage only a single in the second successive World Cup knockout game.
The likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept the Men in Blue in the game momentarily. Eventually, they fell short by 18 runs.
India vs Australia, 5th ODI, Delhi, 2019:
Despite Australia blanking India in the T20 series, the Men in Blue remained overwhelming favourites to win the ODI series. Australia invaded the Indian shores after losing the ODI series on their home turf and without Steven Smith and David Warner in their outfit.
To make matters worse, they lost the first two out of their five games and appeared very vulnerable with the World Cup a few months away.
But Aaron Finch’s men scripted one of the rarest comebacks to emerge victorious in the leg. They won the next two games, including recording their highest run-chase in ODIs in the fourth match in Mohali. In the fifth ODI in Delhi in the decider, the visitors set 273 for India to win after electing to bat first.
Kohli, who is often known to ace the chase, could score only 20 before edging a back of a length delivery off Marcus Stoinis to Alex Carey behind the stumps.
India eventually lost the game by 35 runs and the series in their last ODI series before the 2019 World Cup.
India vs England, 3rd Test, 2012, Kolkata:
Even as Virat Kohli was not a bonafide Test cricketer at this stage, he was four years into international cricket. At that stage, he was expected to make at least a handy contribution if not a substantial one.
India had won the first Test in Ahmedabad against the Englishmen while England bounced back to win the second convincingly.
Hence, the third Test was crucial for both the teams. Kohli could make only 6 as India bundled out for 316 before the tourists made 523 in their first. The hosts could take only a lead of 40 as Steven Finn dismissed Virat for 20.
In retrospect, a lead of 150 or above could have been possible had Kohli contributed a bit more.
England won the Test and the series by a margin of 2-1 in the four-match series.
New Zealand vs India, 2nd Test, 2020, Christchurch
India entered the Test series against New Zealand as the number one Test team. They beat Australia on their home turf and gave the likes of England and South Africa a real run for their money when competing on their shores. And a victory in New Zealand may have taken this Indian team to a whole new level in the Test arena.
But contrary to the expectation, their batting line-up began faltering from the get-go. Virat Kohli’s team capitulated with the bat in the first Test in Wellington as they couldn’t reach even 200 in both the innings. Captain Kohli had scores of 2 and 19 in the loss as he also lost his number one Test ranking back to Smith.
The Delhi-born failed for the second consecutive time in the final Test in Christchurch which is an ongoing one. He made 3 and 14 in the first and second innings respectively to hand the Kiwis a significant advantage. The average of 9.50 in the Test series is also his second-lowest in a Test series in his 86-Test career.
Subsequently, India were humiliated in the two-match Test series by the Kiwis.
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