A netizen’s claim on social media is making waves: “If Rohit Sharma can be the first Indian captain to be dismissed in the middle of a Test series, then Virat Kohli should be the first batsman to be dismissed in the middle of a Test match.” After today, everybody knows or understands why he is making such a claim. The comment stems from Kohli’s repeated dismissals in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series.

Kohli was dismissed for 17 runs off 69 balls on the first day of the Sydney Test today. Yes, not scoring runs is a factor, but perhaps a bigger issue is the way he is being dismissed. India has batted 9 times so far in the Border-Gavaskar series, and Kohli has had the opportunity to bat in 8 innings. Excluding his unbeaten century in India’s second innings in Perth, Kohli has been dismissed 7 times, and in the same manner each time. After watching his batting in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy, some individuals are mocking him on social media, saying that while Rohit, despite being in a tough position, is getting out in different ways with different shots, Kohli seems stuck in the same pattern.

Although a star batsman, Virat Kohli seems to be fighting an inner battle. To prolong his innings, he has even tried to abandon his signature drive shot. This restraint was evident in the first innings of the Sydney Test, where he played 69 balls without hitting a boundary – the longest he has gone boundary-less in his Test career.

Struggles Outside Off-Stump

Kohli’s weakness with deliveries outside the off-stump is not new. A common saying in cricket is that a batsman’s strongest area often becomes his weakness. For Kohli, his elegant cover drive, backfoot punch, and cut shots are as breathtaking as his dismissals in the slips are frequent.

Outside Off, Aged, and Gone – Once Again, Virat Kohli Fell Into the Australian Trap, IND vs AUS 5th Test
Outside Off, Aged, and Gone – Once Again, Virat Kohli Fell Into the Australian Trap, IND vs AUS 5th Test

Kohli has been caught behind by wicketkeepers 44 times in his 209 Test innings, with 39 of those dismissals coming against pacers. Across all formats, he has been dismissed in this manner 109 times, with 96 instances involving pacers.

Why It’s Called “Forbidden Love”

In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, barring his unbeaten century in Perth, Kohli has struggled to score big runs. In seven other innings, he has scored 84 runs with dismissals reading: 5, 7, 11, 3, 36, 5, 17. All of these dismissals have come from balls outside the off-stump.

Whether driving, defending, or leaving, Kohli often succumbs to the temptation of playing at deliveries in this area. Critics have suggested he take inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic 241-run innings in Sydney in 2004, where Tendulkar avoided the cover drive entirely to counter a similar off-stump issue.

The Australian Trap

Australia’s bowlers have consistently targeted Kohli in the corridor outside off-stump, laying a clear trap. While Kohli is well aware of this, he continues to fall into it, almost like a lover unable to let go of forbidden love. In the third Test, his very first delivery was a ball outside off-stump, and he nicked it to the slips. Although the catch was later deemed invalid, it was another example of his struggle against the same pattern.

The Perfectionist’s Dilemma

Great players like Kohli are often driven by an innate desire to prove their techniques right, even under pressure. But does a player of Kohli’s stature, already counted among the greatest of all time, really have anything left to prove? Or is it time for him to acknowledge the “forbidden love” and adapt like the legends before him?

Kohli’s struggle is a reminder that even the best have their vulnerabilities – it’s how they address them that defines their greatness.

Kohli’s Stance Experimentation

In the Sydney Test, the 36-year-old batter made some adjustments to his batting stance. Earlier in the series, his left foot was positioned slightly inward (toward long-on), making it difficult to reach deliveries outside the off-stump due to the longer distance required for footwork. However, in Sydney, Kohli took a stance with his left leg straighter, aligned with the non-striker’s stump. This adjustment shortened the time needed to bring his left leg closer to the ball.

Despite this improved stance and immense patience, Kohli couldn’t resist the temptation. His 69-ball knock, his longest Test inning without a boundary, was still unable to avoid the traps set for him. Unlike Tendulkar, who conquered a similar problem by letting go, Kohli tried to fight it head-on but fell into the same snare.

“Kohli Loves Slips Like Hashmi Loves Lips”

This recurring pattern has made Kohli the subject of online jokes. A netizen quipped, “Kohli loves slips like Hashmi loves lips,” drawing a parallel between Kohli’s repeated slip dismissals and Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi’s reputation for kissing scenes in movies.

Hashmi once revealed that his wife, Parveen Sahani, disliked those scenes and even hit him with her handbag over them. While Anushka Sharma’s reaction to Kohli’s off-stump woes is unknown, fans and analysts are clear about their criticism.

Drawing comparisons with Bollywood icons like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, who repeatedly bounced back from setbacks, Kohli also has the ability to rise from his current struggles. Both actors faced failures but made legendary comebacks. Whether Kohli can return as a “Don” or a “Baazigar” after his love affair with off-stump deliveries remains in the hands of time.

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A sports journalist driven by passion and dedication, I blend my love for writing and games seamlessly. Currently with Timesbull and having honed my craft at Sportskeeda, Cricreads, and Athlete Fortune,...