Concerns regarding Virat Kohli's performance and future in the Test format have intensified following his dismissal for a mere three runs during the first innings of the third Test match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series held in Brisbane. This setback at the Gabba resulted in his batting average reaching an eight-year low, placing him on the verge of an unprecedented milestone in his distinguished career.

The Australian tour, which may potentially mark the conclusion of his career, has been characterized as a pivotal series for Kohli, who has been experiencing a prolonged period of subpar performance over the past year. His preceding series against New Zealand at home witnessed Kohli delivering his poorest results on familiar grounds in seven years.

Nevertheless, he briefly rekindled hopes for a comeback with a century in the opening match in Perth. This performance also enabled the 36-year-old to re-enter the top 20 of the ICC Test rankings, a position he had fallen from for the first time in a decade following the New Zealand series. Unfortunately, this resurgence proved to be short-lived.

As his recurring vulnerability to deliveries outside the off-stump line resurfaced, Kohli recorded scores of 7 and 11 in the Adelaide pink ball Test, followed by a mere 3 at the Gabba on Monday. These dismissals have raised significant concerns, prompting Australian cricket legend Allan Border to question whether the former India captain has lost his competitive edge.

Kohli's average hits eight-year low

Following the disappointing performance in the first innings in Brisbane, Kohli's career batting average decreased to 47.9, marking the lowest point since it dropped to 47.50 during the home series against England in 2016. This current average, amidst his ongoing struggles, stands in stark contrast to the peak of 55.10 he achieved in 2019.

Kohli first surpassed an average of 50 during his 52nd Test match, where he scored a double century against England in 2016. For six years, he maintained an average above this threshold; however, after it declined following the day-night Test in Bengaluru against Sri Lanka in 2022, he has since played an additional 50 Test matches without managing to raise it back above 50.

Kohli's forgettable 2024

Kohli's performance as a batter across all formats has been largely disappointing, except for his T20 World Cup title victory in June. In Test cricket, he accumulated merely 376 runs over 17 innings this year, achieving just one century and one half-century. His lacklustre performance at Gabba has resulted in his average for 2024 plummeting to 25.06, placing him on the verge of recording his lowest average in a calendar year in which he has played at least 10 innings. Notably, he previously registered his worst average of 25.06 in 2022.

In 2022, India had limited opportunities to play One Day Internationals, but in T20 Internationals, Kohli's average was a mere 18 across 10 innings, marking his lowest performance in a calendar year where he has batted at least 10 times.

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