IND vs SL 2022: The way Virat Kohli bats, it never looked like he has struggled – Saba Karim

Former Indian selector Saba Karim has stated that the way Virat Kohli has batted, it never looked like he has struggled.

Kohli has been averaging 28.14 in Test cricket in the last two years and he hasn’t been able to deliver the goods by his lofty standards. However, the talisman has been averaging over 50 in the 50-overs format.

In fact, Kohli hasn’t looked out of form but he is surely out of runs in the Test format. The lynchpin had scored his last Test hundred back in November 2019 when he scored a century against Bangladesh in the pink-ball Test match at Kolkata.

Kohli will be playing his 100th Test match in Mohali against Sri Lanka and he would look to bring an end to his century drought.

Saba Karim said on YouTube Channel Khelneeti, “It is taking time (for the 71st international hundred) but whenever Kohli has batted it hasn’t looked like he has struggled or is finding it difficult to score runs. His 30s, 40s and 50s have always shown that he is a complete player. So we can hope that this so-called lean phase by his standards due to the benchmark that he has set will go away soon.”

Karim gave credit to Kohli for maintaining his fitness and delivering the goods in the red-ball version for the national team. Kohli has thus far scored 7962 runs in 99 Test matches at an average of a shade over 50.

“When he made his entry in international cricket, he had a chubby face and was a tad overweight according to me. But this is what makes a player great when there is an ambition to represent India and contribute like a match-winner, there is a lot to learn.” Karim concluded: “The way Virat changed his lifestyle has what made his longevity spectacular and he has been such an effective player.”

Virat Kohli will be looking to bring his best in his 100th Test match against Sri Lanka. The lynchpin has been a consistent performer and he would look to make it a memorable Test for himself as well as the team.

India will play the first Test match against Sri Lanka in Mohali from March 4.