The Road to Redemption: Why Virat Kohli Isn’t Back in Form

It happens to the best of players, even legends like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. A dip in form is just part of the game. However, the question remains: Why isn’t Kohli performing at his peak?

Age: A Contributor to Ease of Form Slumps?

One of the biggest factors could be age. As you grow older, your hand-eye coordination naturally slows down. In cricket, where you have just a fraction of a second to react to a ball, even the slightest lapse can cost you your wicket. Yet, we all know the kind of skill and fitness Kohli brings to the table. Despite a few lean patches and a tough couple of years, he still averages 47.72 in 120 Test matches with almost 9,000 runs and 30 centuries. Those numbers speak for themselves.

Let’s just hope the ‘King’ conquers Australia one more time—what might be his last tour Down Under. Fingers crossed!

The Role of Learning and Adapting in Performance

I guess Kohli has had its peak form while he was still learning constantly. When a person who has achieved a lot stops their learning, the greatness is taken away from their personality. Maybe that's the reason for his poor form. There are so many examples where he has gotten out on the same delivery on the very next match, showing he is not learning from his failures. Since 2020, he is not able to score big in any format of the game.

Focusing and Concentrating on the Game

He has to focus and concentrate on the game when he is playing cricket, and it seems a lot of net practice is required. The fact that he is struggling with focus and determination can be a significant factor. Additionally, trying to play shots even before the ball reaches the bat often results in poor timing.

Losing Focus and Determination

In recent years, Kohli has been criticized for his poor form and comments on social and cultural issues. It seems like his energy and focus are scattered, leading to distractions during the game. Moreover, his public statements about giving lectures on festivals have been met with criticism, even from fans like myself who respect his batting skills.

“You should never go down in your own eyes… But Kohli unfortunately went down in his own eyes,” is a poignant statement. His announcing stepping down from the captaincy before the T20 World Cup was the most selfish move I have ever seen from a captain. No manliness in that. He could have just given his best in the T20 WC and then accepted whatever the selectors decided on his performance. But he wanted to go out on his own terms...

Such a decision before the first ball was bowled killed the team’s morale. A person with such a mindset can never inspire a team to greatness, nor can they propel themselves back to it. As a result, Kohli lost and lost heavily. He is still pretending as if he is an Emperor, but in reality, he is naked and in need of a fresh pair of clothes.