Virat Kohli fell cheaply (Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
In a sad final image at the crease in Australia, harsh terrain where he has some of his fondest memories, Virat Kohli berated himself before punching his leg.
The Indian cricket legend could not believe he had fallen for the bait yet again in India’s pivotal second innings in the fifth and final Test against Australia on a rollicking day two.
Coming out a bit later than usual after some resistance from India’s top-order, Kohli knew what was coming from tormentor Scott Boland. Just one day earlier, Kohli had been dismissed yet again by Boland after fending outside the off-stump and caught behind the wicket.
He had cut a notably dejected figure on his way off the field on day one, but there had been hope that Kohli might just be able to summon his old powers when India needed it the most as they strive for a series-levelling victory.
After an injury forced stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah from the field early on day two, Kohli assumed his old leadership mantle. It seemed to sharpen his focus and he led with aplomb as India produced a stirring effort without their talisman Bumrah.
Kohli led well, seemingly inspiring India’s maligned back-up quicks while he claimed a particularly sharp catch in the slips.
Kohli was India’s stand-in skipper for much of day two (Photo by Morgan Hancock – CA/Cricket … [+]
The captaincy tag had appeared to shake him from a foul mood that has festered as the series has worn on exacerbated by the youthful exuberance of brash upstart Sam Konstas, who has really gotten under his skin.
After being bogged down to a record degree in his excruciating first innings knock, Kohli tried to bring the good vibes into his batting. He sought a proactive approach and scored immediately off Boland and soon enough hit his first boundary of the match.
Kohli was intent on domination, like how he has toyed with so many bowlers in his illustrious career, but his penchant for feeling bat on ball was his undoing as he – you guessed it – tamely nicked off to Boland in the same wretched mode of dismissal.
Scott Boland of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Virat Kohli (Photo by Santanu … [+]
Kohli trudged off the SCG once again looking defeated, a diminished figure that looked jarring for one of cricket’s most intimidating players. He has once again taken the role of pantomime villain in Australia, but the jeering and barbs were on hold, temporarily, as fans in the terraces rose to their feet in a rousing ovation.
They wanted to give Kohli, the player who has most defined this compelling rivalry over the past decade, suitable acknowledgment.
Whether it’s his last Test match of his career remains unknown. There is a feeling that he will push for a prolonged farewell against England in the upcoming UK summer.
If he does decide to go on, Kohli will firstly need to deliver himself some home truths. As they transition this team, Kohli might just have to move a spot or two down the order.
It would provide an opportunity for a younger player to start cementing a spot in such a crucial role, while shielding Kohli who has become so susceptible against a newer ball.
Kohli, innately pugnacious like a boxer, will surely find it difficult to concede but it might be time to finally accept his flamboyancy outside the offstump has become a glaring weakness for unrelenting souls like Boland to exploit.
It means eradicating his trademark cover drive, so majestic that it shaped his mystique, with Kohli’s failure to execute his favored stroke just another sad image of this aging champion.
