Virat Kohli's struggles in Australia continued during the second innings of the Sydney Test, where he fell victim to the same issue again. He went after a wide ball from Scott Boland and ended up back in the dressing room with just 6 runs to his name. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar mentioned that the selection committee needs to make some decisions, expressing his trust in chairman Ajit Agarkar.

Kohli's recent trip to Australia wrapped up on a low note. He only managed to score one century during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which came in the second innings of the first match in Perth.

Overall, Kohli racked up just 190 runs across 9 innings, averaging 23.75. All eight of his dismissals in the series were strikingly similar, as he fell for balls pitched well outside the off stump.

I’m not the one making decisions here, but I think it’s really up to the selection committee to figure out the next steps. Ajit Agarkar is definitely the right person to make the call for Indian cricket. Over the past week or so, I’ve been stressing the importance of looking at who will be in the mix for the 2027 World Test Championship final, Gavaskar shared with India Today.

"The new cycle kicks off with the England series in June, so it’s crucial to evaluate which players are likely to be around by 2027. This should really shape the selection process," he continued.

Gavaskar added, "In the end, the selectors, with Ajit Agarkar at the helm, need to consider who will be available for the 2027 final and who can still be picked. If India wins tomorrow, they’ll still have a shot at the World Test Championship final. After that, all eyes will be on the England tour."

Virat has a technical issue

Sunil Gavaskar highlighted a significant technical issue in Virat Kohli's batting. Once again, he got out while reaching for a ball outside the off-stump.

"It’s not about his temperament; it’s a technical problem. He’s so focused on the front foot that when the ball bounces, he can’t adjust properly, which causes him to leave his bat hanging outside the line and get dismissed. This issue has become a part of his technique, and on bouncy pitches, he’s likely to keep facing challenges," Gavaskar explained.

As for the Sydney Test, India is ahead by 145 runs. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are set to bat on Day 3 to build on India's lead and set Australia a challenging target.

If India secures a win in the Sydney Test, they will keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia needs at least a draw or a win to claim a Test series victory against India for the first time in a decade.

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