Kohli's highs and lows in England

The Indian Test team has been thrust into uncertainty following Virat Kohlirsquos unexpected retirement from the longest format on Monday just weeks ahead of a crucial fivematch series in EnglandKohlis final chapter in Test whites played out far from home during a disastrous BorderGavaskar Trophy in Australia Once a land of his triumphs and transformation Australia became the backdrop to a painful farewell His last innings was the same way of dismissal edging behind after chasing another delivery outside offstump from Scott Boland Kohli has witnessed it all in Australia from coming of age to dominance to utter helplessness against forces of age muscle memory and time2014 This was Kohli in his formative years in the longest format of the game battling numerous ups and downs in his game Riding on a successful New Zealand tour with the bat where he scored 215 runs in four innings with a century and fifty much was expected from Kohli on his first Test tour of EnglandInstead Kohli had a disastrous tour where he struggled with the topquality seam and swing bowling by the England pace duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad The class of this bowling duo with over 1300 wickets to their name was too much for a 25yearold Kohli as he could score just 134 runs in 10 innings at a poor average of 1340 with the best score of 39 He often struggled with the deliveries outside the offstump line Anderson brought this weakness to the front for the cricketing world to see and he dismissed him four times With each edge to an outside offstump delivery chinks in his armour were exposed2018 From 201619 Kohli had one of the best peaks ever by a batter in Test cricket scoring 4208 runs in 43 matches at an average of 6679 with 16 centuries and 10 fifties A crown jewel of this whole run was the England tour in 2018 Dedicating hours to honing his craft and overcoming his past weaknesses Kohli was extremely keen to add to his monumental Test run and avenge his humiliation from Anderson and Broad Kohli ended the tour with 593 runs in five matches at an average of 5930 with two centuries and three fifties topping the runchartsThe King had conquered England as well Not once did he succumb to his foe Anderson but rather he handled him with a mix of class and aggression that only he could have shown With a loud roar following his century at Edgbaston Kohli started a superhuman lone warrior effort with the bat which went in vain as India lost the series 41202122 This series came during Kohlis first real slump in form This was a phase of his career when everyone realised that Kohli was a human after all and could have his ups and downs after years of delivering almost inhumanlevel performancesHis struggles with the outside offstump line and Englands swing and seam movement once again resurfaced and led to him piling up average numbers Kohli emerged as the eighthhighest rungetter scoring 249 runs in nine matches at an average of 2776 with two halfcenturies and a couple of useful 40s While these numbers do not look attractive Kohli nevertheless put up a resilient fight in English conditions but could not overcome them like he did back in 2018 His rivalry with Anderson was reignited as he dismissed him twiceDue to the upanddown nature of these tours Kohlis numbers in England do not do true justice to his talent and ability against worldclass bowling in overseas conditions Kohli has played 17 Tests in England scoring 1096 runs at an average of 3321 with two centuries and five fifties in 33 innings and the best score of 149With ANI inputsatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params