Virat Kohli’s Test Future in Doubt After Disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Virat Kohli’s struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have raised questions about his future in Test cricket. In the fifth Test against Australia, Kohli was dismissed yet again while chasing a delivery outside off-stump, a pattern seen throughout the series. Frustrated, he punched his thigh and yelled at himself. Across nine innings in the series, Kohli was dismissed similarly eight times, finishing with just 190 runs, including a century in the first Test in Perth. At 36, critics are questioning whether his past achievements are enough to keep him in the Indian Test team.

Despite the poor run, Kohli reportedly has no plans to retire and is aiming to continue playing until the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, there are concerns about his inclusion in India’s Test squad for the England tour in June. A former selector noted that selectors might struggle to justify picking Kohli or Rohit Sharma without any recent red-ball cricket to back their form.

Kohli has not shown interest in playing the Ranji Trophy, which resumes on January 23. Delhi, his domestic team, is set to face Saurashtra, but Kohli’s packed schedule makes his participation unlikely. After the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India will host England for three ODIs in preparation for the Champions Trophy. Kohli is expected to feature in that series and later captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.

If Kohli skips domestic cricket, his only chance to practice with the red ball might be playing India A games before the England Test series. This lack of preparation could make his inclusion in the Test team a point of debate.