Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg has raised questions over Virat Kohli’s chances of overtaking the top score of the most runs scored in Test cricket made by Sachin Tendulkar. He feels that Kohli has wasted valuable time in recent years. Currently, Kohli has scored 8,871 runs from 114 Test matches. However, his current performances make one gloomy about his possibilities of closing down the difference with Tendulkar’s formidable tally.
Erratic Form Matters for Kohli’s Statistics
Virat Kohli’s style of batting in Tests has proved to be against him. Kohli’s batting average has fallen below 50, a number that many great batsmen make to make an impression. It has only been two Test centuries since 2020. He has only managed to score 1,669 runs at an average of 32.72 from the last nine matches. This performance is quite different from his rivals in the “fab four”—Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson—all of whom have done better recently.
Hogg’s Bold View on Kohli’s Future
Brad Hogg is emphatic about his opinion. “I don’t think Virat is going to get there now. I think he’s lost his momentum, and this has been happening for a number of years.” Hogg feels that Kohli needs to start doing better in the next ten Test matches. If he does not, he might fall behind Tendulkar’s record.
Joe Root: The Epitome of Consistency
On the other hand, former England captain Joe Root has been utterly consistent in Test cricket. Not many would have thought that since the advent of COVID-19, Root would go on to score 4,579 runs in 49 Tests with 17 centuries as well. If one were to consider these periods, most of his Test centuries come within these parameters, 922 points. His success piles more pressure on Kohli to do well and regain the top.
Conclusion
As fans and experts keenly follow the doings, Virat Kohli is at an important juncture in his career. Not just numbers; his chance to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record also lies in his legacy in cricket. Kohli’s recent failures have made everyone skeptical, and Hogg’s comments throw light on those issues. If Kohli can curb this erosion and get himself into good momentum in the coming matches, then there are chances that he would break records again. But then he needs to do so quickly; each match is vital towards this journey in cricket history.
