Leg and Off: Should Virat Kohli quit ODIs and focus solely on Tests?
Virat Kohli's form in Test cricket has been concerning for a considerable time period now. Barring a few good innings in between, the former Indian captain has struggled more often than not.
Precisely speaking, Virat has struggled for the last five years in Test cricket. While he did score an unbeaten hundred in the first Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test at Perth, it was his first ton in the format in 16 months. Despite the century, Virat failed to score in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, leading to continued discussions about his poor form.
West Indies great Andy Roberts, in his conversation with Mid-Day, stated that Virat Kohli must focus solely on the longer format if he wants to regain his form in Test cricket.
“One of your best batsmen of all time has been struggling for the last five years,” Roberts said, talking about Virat.
“He needs to be focused on the longer version of the game. You will get runs and score heavily in Test cricket only when you are fully focused on the longer form. The standard of Test cricket is not the same. The top batsmen look as if they are struggling,” he added.
Roberts' comments spark the debate on whether Virat should continue playing ODIs or quit the format to completely focus on red-ball cricket at this stage in his career.
Will quitting the one-day format actually help Virat focus on Tests and gain his form back? What would it mean to the Indian team given a major ICC tournament is also around the corner? Let us analyze:
Should Virat Kohli quit ODIs and focus solely on Tests?
Looking at Virat Kohli's Test numbers since 2020, he has scored 1961 runs from 64 innings and 36 Tests (since January 2020). He has averaged above 50 only once (in 2023) and has also managed to score just three Test hundreds in the last five years. His average during this period has been pretty low - just 32.15.
While he did manage to score a hundred in Perth in the first BGT 2024-25 Test, he continued to struggle in the second game in Adelaide. Virat's form in the longer format is undoubtedly concerning and there has been a question mark on his place in the team several times.
About his form in ODIs, he had a stellar 2023 World Cup, where he ended as the highest run-getter with 765 runs from 11 innings at an average of 95.62, including three hundreds. He played a key role in India reaching the final.
Since the 2023 World Cup, Virat Kohli has played just three ODIs (all against Sri Lanka in 2024) and has not had any significant performances. While he has been struggling in Tests, his recent records in ODIs has not been as concerning. The question then, is whether he is struggling to score overall or just needs to focus more on his technique in the longer format.
While Virat quitting ODIs and focusing only on Test cricket might sound convincing to some, it is also to be noted that the ICC Champions Trophy is not too far away. With a major ICC white-ball event coming up in the 50-over format, India would definitely want an experienced batter to be a part of the side.
It is only fair for Virat Kohli to continue playing ODIs, at least until the conclusion of the Champions Trophy, if not beyond. With the Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in February-March next year, the Indian team will not be playing any Test matches after the conclusion of the Border Gavaskar Trophy until then.
India will play five Tests in England after the Champions Trophy. Virat Kohli's performances in that series could probably give a better picture of whether he should really quit the one-day format to focus solely on Tests to regain his form. Until then, however, there might not be a realistic need for him to step away from ODIs, especially with the Champions Trophy soon approaching.