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Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has faced a significant drop in the latest ICC Men’s Test rankings, marking a new low in the right-handed batter’s illustrious career. After a series of underwhelming performances against New Zealand, Kohli has tumbled down the rankings, now standing at a new low in Test cricket globally.
A sharp decline in Virat Kohli’s Test rankings
In 2024, Kohli’s Test performances have been uncharacteristically lacklustre as he is now at the 22nd rank in the ICC Men’s Test rankings. Over six matches this year, he has managed only 250 runs with a modest average of 22.72, securing just one half-century. His recent performance in the three-match series against New Zealand was especially disappointing, yielding just 93 runs across three games. This downturn has caused him to slide eight positions, a notable drop from his former place this is Kohli’s worst ranking in the last ten years
The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 will commence on November 22 and offer Kohli an opportunity to rediscover his form. Known for his record in the BGT, Kohli ranks as the fifth-highest run-scorer for India in this series, with 1,979 runs and eight centuries in 24 matches. His experience and past performances could be crucial for India to secure the World Test Championship (WTC) finals berth. The team and fans alike hope Kohli can rise to the occasion and reclaim his position among the world’s elite batters.
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Pressure mounts on Indian batters ahead of Border Gavaskar Trophy
It isn’t just Kohli feeling the pressure; Indian captain Rohit Sharma has also seen his ranking decline, now positioned at 26th. In the current ICC top 10 Test batters, only two Indian players remain: opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal at 4th and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant at 6th. Both Jaiswal and Pant have performed well, but the absence of experienced players like Kohli and Rohit in the upper echelon of the rankings is concerning for India’s batting depth.
Kohli and Sharma’s recent struggles are a significant setback for India as they prepare for a pivotal five-match Test series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). This high-stakes series is crucial for India’s hopes of reaching the final of the World Test Championship. Following a 0-3 series loss against the Black Caps, largely attributed to poor batting performances, the pressure is mounting on senior players to step up.
