Virat Kohli’s bat failure is not over. He was dismissed without making a significant contribution in the intra-squad match before the first Test between India and Australia on November 22 in Perth. He was caught in the second slip on Mukesh Kumar’s delivery ahead of the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024.

Kohli scored just 93 runs in six innings against New Zealand, and his mediocre display contributed to India’s 0-3 defeat at home. In the last five years, the 36-year-old has scored just three Test hundreds.

Although he has amassed over 1300 runs in Australia, his recent form is a big concern for the visiting team. The subcontinent team will have to beat Australia 4-0 to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship, and the management is expecting him to fire with the bat as India is eyeing their third consecutive series win Down Under.

The mode of his dismissals has been worrying for his supporters and former players. He was clean bowled on a full toss in one of the innings against New Zealand, and his habit of going for a shot on the balls wide of the off-stump has been troubling him for a long time.

However, Ricky Ponting feels Kohli will enjoy batting on the fast and bouncy tracks in Australia and may return to his best in the games against the Pat Cummins-led side.