India vs West Indies: Virat Kohli not out of form but luck is evading him, says Sunil Gavaskar

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar played down concerns about Virat Kohli’s form, saying the former captain is not going through a lean patch but that luck is not in his side in the recent past. Gavaskar’s comments came after Virat Kohli failed to convert a start yet another time, in the 2nd ODI against the West Indies in Ahmedabad.

Virat Kohli has not managed to trouble the scorers much in the first 2 ODIs of the ongoing series against the West Indies. While he got out to a bouncer in the first ODI after a strange 4-ball 8, Kohli got out for 18 in the 2nd ODI as India posted a below-par total of 237 before successfully defending it on Wednesday.

Kohli was dismissed by Alzarri Joseph in the first ODI while the former captain fell to Odean Smith in a wonderfully-bowled spell from the West Indies express fast bowler. Kohli was pushed back by Smith with bouncers before the 25-year-old pushed one up further, pushing one further up and forcing an edge from Kohli.

Kohli has managed 142 runs in 5 matches, including 2 fifties that came in South Africa in January. However, Kohli has not hit a 3-figure score in ODI cricket since he hit 5 of them in 2019.

Questions are being asked of Kohli’s form as the star batter has struggled to get big scores at the top of the order for India but Gavaskar believes the former captain needs a bit of luck of going his way.

“Luck (What is Kohli missing?). Every batter needs a bit of luck. Every batter needs a situation where he plays and misses an edge. Every batter needs a situation where he edges the ball and the catch is dropped or the ball falls short of the fielder.

“He hasn’t quite had the best of luck in the last so many matches. Don’t forget, he got fifties in South Africa,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.

West Indies have bowled well to Kohli: Bishop

Meanwhile, former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop said Odean Smith wonderfully set up Virat Kohli, who he believes was looking set to get a big knock on Wednesday.

“I thought they (West Indies pacers) bowled well to Virat Kohli. They did not overdo the short-ball bit. Odean Smith set it up wonderfully, the way he pushed Kohli back and then got a fuller delivery.

“Kohli looked to set himself up for a big one and then he got that one after being pushed back. Smith bowled it in that lovely area, inviting a drive but not fullish enough to play the shot. I thought that was good bowling,” Bishop said.