India’s star batter Virat Kohli was visibly frustrated after falling victim to a familiar weakness—a ball outside the off-stump. His dismissal for just 6 runs on Saturday during the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground brought an abrupt end to his 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) campaign.
What makes this dismissal even more emotional? It could very well be the last time fans see Kohli bat on Australian soil.
Kohli’s frustration was caught on the stump mic as he shouted in anger while the ball travelled to the second slip, where it was safely pouched.
Kohli Falls to Boland’s Perfect Trap
The dismissal occurred on the first ball of the 14th over. Scott Boland, who has troubled Kohli throughout the series, bowled a hard-length delivery outside the off-stump channel. Kohli, tempted to play with hard hands, edged the ball to second slip, giving Australia an easy wicket.
What made the dismissal more painful for Kohli was the precision with which Boland executed Australia’s premeditated plan. The Australian pacer had openly discussed their strategy against Kohli during a press conference on Friday.
“We’ve got pretty set plans on how we want to bowl to him,” Boland revealed to Fox Cricket. “He sort of feels like he leaves a lot and then he wants to play the ball once he gets in. So once he gets in, we just want to switch our lines a little bit to the fifth stump, and it’s working at the moment.”
Kohli’s Final BGT Numbers Disappoint
Kohli’s series stats don’t reflect the dominance expected from one of the game’s greats. He managed just 190 runs from nine innings at an average of 23.75. His only century came in the second innings of the first Test in Perth, but since then, he struggled to convert starts into big scores.
The Sydney Test saw Kohli coming in with India at 47/2. He looked in good touch initially, scoring a confident boundary and handling the Australian pacers well. However, Boland’s relentless accuracy ended Kohli’s stay, bringing an anti-climactic end to his series.
Frustration Boils Over
Kohli’s visible anger after his dismissal was a rare sight. Known for his intense focus, the 35-year-old batter is usually calm under pressure. But on Saturday, he let his emotions show.
Even before the ball reached second slip, Kohli was heard shouting and cursing himself. It was a reflection of the frustration that has been building throughout the series, especially given his vulnerability outside the off-stump.
Virat Kohli’s Future in Test Cricket?
Kohli’s form and future in the Indian Test team have been hot topics of discussion. Reports suggest that the Indian selectors will review his position in the Test squad after the BGT.
Kohli’s struggles with balls outside off-stump have been well-documented. This series once again exposed his weakness, as Australia’s bowlers targeted that area relentlessly.
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