Virat Kohli Advised to Remain in Tests Amid India’s Struggles

Former Indian cricketer Shreevats Goswami has expressed his views on Virat Kohli’s Test career, suggesting that Kohli should focus on Test cricket and retire from One Day Internationals (ODIs). Goswami believes that Kohli’s presence is crucial for the current Indian team, especially after a series of underwhelming performances.

India’s Struggles in Test Cricket

Goswami’s comments come amid India’s disappointing performance in the ongoing Test match against South Africa in Guwahati. Following a humiliating Test series loss to New Zealand last year, the team finds itself in a precarious position again. They risk another home series defeat against South Africa if they lose the second Test.

Kohli’s Impact on the Team

Goswami highlighted the energy Kohli brought to the team during his captaincy, stating, “Test cricket misses him. Not just as a player, but for the belief he instilled in the team.” His remarks were shared on the social media platform X.

Match Highlights

As of now, South Africa leads the second Test against India significantly. After taking a first-innings lead of 288 runs, South Africa reached 26 without loss at stumps on Day 3. The opening batsmen, Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram, are unbeaten on 13 and 12 runs, respectively.

• South Africa’s First Innings: 489 runs
• India’s First Innings: 201 runs
• Indian Contributions:
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal: 58 runs off 97 balls
  • Washington Sundar: 48 runs off 92 balls

India’s first innings saw a dramatic collapse after starting with an initial score of 9 without loss. The batting lineup faltered, with significant contributions only from Jaiswal and Sundar. Marco Jansen was the standout bowler for South Africa, claiming 6 wickets for 48 runs, while Simon Harmer picked up 3 wickets for 64 runs.

Upcoming Challenges

With two days left in the Test, India is at a crossroads. Their batting lineup needs to find its footing quickly if they hope to avoid another series defeat on home soil. The current Test format might benefit from Kohli’s unique talent and determination, which the team appears to be missing.