Achieving a score of seven out of seven is typically regarded as commendable; however, it loses its lustre when one of the leading batsmen of his era is dismissed in the same manner on seven consecutive occasions.

This series has been one to forget for Virat Kohli. It is remarkable to consider that it began with such high expectations a little over a month ago, highlighted by a second-innings century in the opening Test held in Perth.

The unbeaten century at the Optus Stadium increasingly appears to be an outlier, a deviation from the norm. Occasionally, as seen in the first innings in Melbourne, he has shown glimpses of replicating that performance from Perth, yet more frequently, he has fallen short, unwittingly drawn into playing at deliveries outside the off-stump and offering catches behind the wicket, either to the wicketkeeper or to the slip fielders.

Kohli's career has been characterized by an extraordinary level of commitment and discipline, traits that are often found in only a select few. Less than five years after his international debut, he transformed his lifestyle, dedicating himself to a stringent physical and dietary regimen that positioned him among the fittest cricketers worldwide. Even at the age of 36, he remains as fit as any athlete in the sport, which is a significant advantage. He continues to excel as a fielder and has improved his skills as a slip catcher, reaffirming his ambition to continually strive for excellence.

While he harbours the same ambition regarding his batting, the situation appears to be deteriorating. Some might argue that it is happening in a rather dramatic fashion.

The Sydney Cricket Ground hosted the concluding Test of a five-match series that felt as though it had commenced ages ago, presenting him with a final opportunity to make a lasting impression in a crucial match. This was essential for India to sustain their aspirations for the World Test Championship finals and to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With Rohit Sharma withdrawing from the match due to his notably poor recent performance, the onus fell heavily on Kohli to guide the batting lineup, particularly on a pitch that offered considerable seam movement throughout the day.

Kohli was nearly dismissed on the very first ball when he edged a delivery from Scott Boland, and it appeared that Steve Smith had managed to secure the catch at second slip. However, as Smith attempted to throw the ball towards the gully—where Marnus Labuschagne successfully caught it—he seemed to lose control, leading to a momentary contact with the ground, as determined by TV umpire Joel Wilson. Kohli likely breathed a sigh of relief, perhaps feeling that fortune was finally favouring him, believing that his initial error would not be his final one this time around.

Virat Kohli's hour-long stay at the crease ends in another disappointment

After battling for 107 minutes and facing 68 deliveries, it was disheartening to witness him reach for a sixth-stump delivery from Boland with a hard grip, resulting in Beau Webster, the debutant, securing his second excellent catch of the day at third slip. While being dismissed on the first ball would have been understandable, falling in this manner on his 69th was certainly not. This type of dismissal has now evolved into more than just a recurring theme. Ravi Shastri, the former head coach and a staunch supporter of Kohli, has suggested that the former captain could continue playing for another three to four years. However, even the most optimistic individuals would find it difficult to endorse Shastri's claim.

Just as it seemed inconceivable seven weeks ago that Rohit would withdraw from the final Test, it is equally unimaginable that Kohli would not be a guaranteed selection for the upcoming five-Test series in England later this year. While he may participate in that tour, it is unlikely that he will exhibit the same confidence he once had. The corridor of uncertainty proved to be his greatest challenge during the 2014 series in England, where he accumulated only 134 runs across ten innings. Even considering that English pitches no longer favour significant seam movement due to their Bazball approach, recent observations indicate that the temptation of deliveries in that channel remains difficult for Kohli to resist.

This should not be an insurmountable issue, or so many experts have rhetorically asked. On Friday, Kohli approached the game with a slightly adjusted batting stance—more side-on and with minimal to no bat-tap before the ball is bowled—but this adjustment did not yield positive results. Despite dedicating extensive hours in the nets practising his shots, the outcomes have not met expectations. There is an undeniable pattern to his tendency to flirt with deliveries outside off-stump, and this, coupled with a series of disappointing scores, raises questions about how much longer he can continue in this manner.

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