India’s captain and master batsman, Virat Kohli with 4497 runs at 49.90 in 56 Tests, is passing through a rough patch against Australia.
In the current series, he has managed a measly 46 runs at a Glenn McGrath-like batting average of 9.20.
He started off with a duck and 13 in the first Test in Pune, followed by 12 and 15 in Bengaluru in the second Test, and 6 in the first innings of the current Ranchi Test.
It may comfort Kohli and his supporters to learn that great batsmen in the past have also experienced such lean trots.
Australia’s magnificent batsman Greg Chappell passed through a much worse phase in 1981-82, when he made seven ducks in 15 internationals, including four zeroes in a row.
Like Kohli’s case, it was quite inexplicable, because Chappell had started the season with a sparkling 162 (20 fours and two sixes) in the opening match for Queensland against Pakistan in Brisbane, and a brilliant 201 (22 fours) in the Brisbane Test facing the bowling of Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz, in November 1981.
But then the wheels fell off.
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In 15 consecutive international innings (including five innings in three Tests) Chappell struggled to 214 runs at 14.26, with two 50s (top score 61) and seven ducks. He was dismissed first ball three times, twice in Test matches.
In five consecutive Test innings within 23 days from December 15 1981 to January 6 1982, he scored just 18 runs (0, 0, 6, 12 and 0) at a BS Chandrasekhar-like average of 3.60.
Cartoonists had a field day depicting Chappell’s plight and a poster on the first day of the Sydney Test against West Indies on January 30, 1982 read: “Everyone got turkey for Christmas, our Greg got four ducks”.
Chappell answered them with 61 and 7.
He recovered his form sufficiently in New Zealand with a masterly 176 (off 218 balls with two sixes and 23 fours) in the Christchurch Test two months later.
Class always tells.
And in his final Test appearance, against Pakistan in Sydney in January 1984, he scored a scintillating 182 (off 400 balls with 17 fours), becoming the sixth player to amass 7000 runs in the Test arena. He also exceeded Don Bradman’s Australian Test record of 6996 runs.
Chappell became the first player to hit a century in his first and last Test innings. He also broke Colin Cowdrey’s record of 120 catches in Test matches by a non-wicket-keeper.
He ended with 7110 runs at 53.86 in 87 Tests, 24 centuries (highest 247 not out), 47 wickets and 122 catches.
Greg Chappell’s bad patch in 1981-82 in internationals in 15 successive internationals should be a consolation for Virat Kohli. Low scoring spells happen to the best players and there is life after ducks and low scores.
Part 2 will detail low-scoring sprees by top Test batsmen Kim Hughes, Mark Waugh and Mark Taylor.
Matthew H
Guest
As a 6yo I was utterly confused by Greg Chappell during that summer. My hero, one of the world's best batsman... terrible blink and you miss it stuff and it felt it was going to happen every time the bloke walked to the middle. If I remember at all the 61 was pretty scratchy too. I feel for the young Indian kids who idolise Kohli. This batting has been really bad and the carry on as well. I don't think Virat has done anything that requires outrage or sanction, but as an ultra-competitor he does things in the moment and he will probably be embarrassed with some of the video.
Ritesh Misra
Roar Guru
Excellent Piece Kersi. Indeed if Greg Cgappell could have such a bad patch, then anyone can have. Knew about Kim Hughes and Mark Taylor as well. Did not know about Mark Waugh. Looking forward to Part 2
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Everyone is mocking Kohli, but maybe he keeps his best until last in this series. This is the guy that single handedly destroyed Australia in the T20 World Cup last year in one of the best innings I have ever watched. Everyone has a bad trot. Kohli will bounce back soon.
brent elms
Guest
kohli is surely one of the best batsman in the world, i love watching him bat, hopefully he will gain his form back but only after this series.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
It's very true that few batsmen, even the very best of them, don't at some stage experience a run of poor scores. Kohli is in that unenviable place now and for all the bagging he is receiving by the many Australian fans he has offended, I am surprised that he is having such an impact on this series without making any runs. I expect that just makes his haters blood boil. In my opinion, this series he has pushed a few boundaries at times, possibly more than he has hit when batting, but I love the aggression he brings to the Indian side.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
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dave
Guest
Chip up Kohli,Even Mgrath scored a 61.
Art Vanderlay
Guest
Thanks for the memories Kersi. As a young bloke I was bewildered by Chapell's run of outs (as undoubtedly he was) and the calls for his head. Thankfully it was well prior to the coming of the internet and it's accompanying keyboard warrior. Kohli, as you say, is a good enough batsman to ride out this slump. As an aside this is a wonderful series that is breathing welcome life into test cricket outside of the Ashes. Both teams, much like the Benaud and Worrell teams in 1960, deserve credit.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Nice one Kersi. Indeed all great batsmen go through these patches. And the Greg Chappell patch is a great example. I hope you get some people commenting on this piece on its merit and looking at the point you are trying to make rather than the bunch spewing their venom on Kohli which is their daily chore. He has managed to get under the skin thought, hasn't he? ?
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Don't worry logic has never been a strong point for our commentator here.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
@Ouch - admit it. You love him so much your heart aches because he doesn't give a hoot about your daily rant. But I am sure we shall all miss it after this series, even if he doesn't. And Keep ranting mate so you don't explode with all the angst inside you!
ThugbyFan
Guest
Getting the India TV feed on Foxtel, I am flabbergasted at the massive love and incessant "sneak" cams to the deity "war hero" by all the commentators. Even Michael Clarke is brown-nosing with the mega superlatives, to keep his job there I guess. It wouldn't surprise me to see a cam in VK's special loo (no plebs allowed), with a running commentary as he strains to do a "Renshaw" and get some runs under his belt. :)
Baz
Guest
i dont like him but if your injuried and cant field no point being out there
Ouch
Guest
Oh, so kohli is now a war hero? Get a grip. "Virat is more Aussie than Indian in his on-field behavior." Yes, yes. Seen this assertion trotted out by indian fans countless times and it's bollocks.
Ouch
Guest
"He’s a real players captain." This is too funny. Yeh, a real players captain who sits in the sir conditioned players box while his troops are out toiling in the heat. Maybe you're referring to his leading of his troops by setting an example with the bat? Oops, no that was Steve Smith.
Schmergen Burgen
Guest
I agree SonOfLordy, with an average of 74, a high score of 178*, and having scored 2 of the 4 centuries in the series, Smith really is being outclassed by Kohli's average of 9.2, highest score of 15 and one century (being the number of balls he has faced in 5 innings). Sure he has done well at prancing around like a peacock making sure the cameras follow his every move to the point that even the umpires are telling him to shake hands and finish the match because its getting ridiculous. But I suspect his team mates would be more inspired by actions with the bat than with the mouth.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I don't think my comment implied hatred. I'm not a fan of him as a person but I respect him as a player very much and would thus hope he worries and then fails again. He's a great batsman and if he fails we're a better chance to win. Simple enough.
Matting wicket
Guest
The only mental disintegration Kholi has caused is his own. How long can a leader continue to act like a spoilt school kid?
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Derek, Bakkies, Peebo, Hatred from enemies is the best compliment for a war hero. Virat is more Aussie than Indian in his on-field behavior.
Peebo
Guest
+1. It'll sure wipe that smirk off his face.