"His failure is 40, our success is 40" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli's performance in IND vs BAN 2024 Test series
Aakash Chopra has noted that Virat Kohli didn't deliver as per his lofty standards in the Test series between India and Bangladesh. He pointed out that a 40-run knock is considered a failure for the modern batting great, although it might be a success for others.
Kohli scored an unbeaten 29 off 37 deliveries as India registered a seven-wicket win in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur on Tuesday, October 1. He smashed a 35-ball 47 in the hosts' first-innings total of 285 for nine declared.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra was asked about his thoughts on Kohli's performances in the series, especially his attacking knock in the first innings in Kanpur.
"Once the template was set, it's like a run chase. In a run-chase, you don't decide how you play, the scoreboard decides that, and that is why he is the chase master. When he came to bat, he was already at No. 5, which is not his original choice number, but the tempo of the game was predecided, so he played in that fashion only," he responded.
"It's good that he scored runs but he didn't look in his true colors. We have seen him batting with better control than this. He will score ugly runs as well. His failure is 40, our success is 40. The parameters are different," the former India opener added.
Kohli struck four fours and a six during his 47-run knock. He was bowled by Shakib Al Hasan while attempting a big shot to reach his half-century.
"The ball didn't hit the middle of his bat that much" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli
![Virat Kohli endured twin failures in the first Test against Bangladesh. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/8ff0f-17277939649025-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same discussion, Aakash Chopra noted that Virat Kohli wasn't middling the ball as usual.
"When he plays, you expect the ball to always hit the middle of the bat. The ball didn't hit the middle of his bat that much. However, I am also seeing from the perspective that he didn't play anything after the T20 World Cup, went to Sri Lanka, and didn't score runs in three innings. After that, you come here straight," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator acknowledged that Kohli getting back to run-scoring ways in the second Test was a positive. However, he added that the Indian batting mainstay wasn't at his fluent best.
"A great player, but he still needs to score runs because he will not play the T20Is and there will be a gap of 15 days again, so runs should keep getting scored. It's good that he scored runs but the dominance, class and finesse were not seen in Virat Kohli's these innings," Chopra elaborated.
Kohli aggregated 99 runs at an average of 33.00 in four innings against Bangladesh. He would want to give a better account of himself in the upcoming three-match home series against New Zealand.