Aakash Chopra sheds light on Virat Kohli’s decline among Fab Four

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opened up on Virat Kohli’s decline among the Fab Four. Kohli has scored only three Test centuries in the last four years whereas the likes of Joe Root, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith have continued their rich form.

Chopra noted that at one stage, Kohli was leading the Fab Four as far as most Test centuries were concerned but now he is at the bottom. Currently, Joe Root has most Test hundreds among the the Fab Four with 36 centuries whereas Kohli has scored 30 hundreds in the red-ball version.

Steven Smith has scored 34 Test centuries whereas Kane Williamson has amassed 32 hundreds in the Test format.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli scored a fine hundred in the second innings at Perth against Australia but returned with scores of 7 and 11 in the Adelaide Test.

“We will have to talk about the Fab Four because Root is doing incredible things and Williamson is also not stopping. It’s an interesting one that when 2021 started, Virat Kohli was at No. 1 with 27 centuries among the Fab Four. Steve Smith was at 26, just beside him. Kane Williamson was at 24, he was just behind. Joe Root was at 17,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“From then until now, he (Root) has scored 19 more centuries. He has gone to 36. 19 centuries in less than four years. There are still matches remaining in 2024, and he has scored 19 centuries. Of course, there is no doubt that he plays a little more cricket, but 19 centuries. Virat Kohli has gone to the bottom of that list, with 30 centuries,” Chopra added.

The renowned commentator noted that Kohli has scored only three Test centuries in the last four years, which is not up to his lofty standards.

“He has scored only three centuries in the last four years, the third came recently in Perth. Steve Smith has still scored six centuries, he is at 32. Kane Williamson has jumped to the joint-second spot with 32 centuries after scoring eight hundreds. It’s true that Joe Root is going differently. He is doing God-level batting at the moment. Who scores 19 centuries in a four-year tenure, but he has done that,” he said.

“Kane Williamson is still going strong. Steve Smith has fallen down. Six centuries is still not that bad, Virat Kohli has scored just three. So suddenly Virat Kohli, who used to be at the top in the Fab Four equation, with Steve Smith next to him, now the tables have turned completely,” Chopra observed.

The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14.