Watch: Virat Kohli instantly begins practice after stumps on Day 2 amid poor form
Star India batter Virat Kohli was seen practicing hard in the ground after stumps on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test against Australia at Optus Stadium in Perth. Notably, India finished the day in a commanding position as openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal took the team to the end of the day’s play without any casualties finishing the proceedings on 172/0 leading Australia by 218 runs.
While Jaiswal (90*) and Rahul (62*) made their way back towards the pavilion after their heroic innings, Kohli was seen walking onto the ground and practicing as he faced some deliveries from the coaching staff member. Notably, Kohli was dismissed cheaply in the first innings as he was left surprised by a rising delivery from Josh Hazlewood and had to return back to the pavilion after scoring just 5 (12). Following his poor outing in the first innings, the India batter seems determined to turn things around in the second innings.
Australia vs India 1st Test Day 2 Highlights
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Virat Kohli’s poor form since 2020
Kohli hasn’t been in the best of forms in 2024 having scored just 255 runs from 13 innings at an average of 21.25 with just one half-century to his name. Moreover, the batter has looked far from his best since 2020 having scored just two centuries with 1843 runs to his name from 35 matches (61 innings) at an average of 31.23 along with nine half centuries.
Despite his poor show in recent times, the former India captain is expected to turn things around in Australia given his stellar record in the country. Kohli has scored 1357 runs in Australia at an average of 52.19 with six hundreds and four fifties to his name.
Following his dismissal in the first innings in the ongoing Perth Test, former Australia opener Matthew Hayden revealed how his technique of batting outside of his crease to counter Australian bowlers is backfiring for him. With all the talks around his form, Kohli will be desperate to return amongst the runs in the second innings as India aim to continue piling on the pressure on the hosts.
