Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has praised Virat Kohli’s remarkable career, highlighting how the star batter has thrived despite a long-standing vulnerability outside the off-stump. Kaif recalled that Bhuvneshwar Kumar had dismissed Kohli twice in a Ranji Trophy match back in 2012 by exploiting this weakness, a pattern that was also evident in Kohli’s recent struggles in Test cricket.
Kohli’s Off-Stump Struggles: A Persistent Challenge
Kohli’s much-anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy has attracted huge crowds to Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, reminiscent of the buzz that surrounded his previous appearance in 2012. However, back then, Kohli was still an emerging talent, sharing the stage with seasoned players like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma, and Pravin Kumar.
Kaif, who played for Uttar Pradesh in that match, noted that Kohli’s tendency to chase deliveries outside off-stump was already apparent back then. “Virat had the same off-stump weakness in 2012. Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed him twice in that game, getting him to edge deliveries outside off,” Kaif shared in a video on social media.
He drew parallels between Kohli’s dismissals in that Ranji game and his struggles in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where Australian bowlers, particularly Scott Boland, executed a well-planned strategy to exploit this flaw. “It’s surprising that this weakness has persisted, yet he has still managed to score 50 centuries in ODIs,” Kaif added.
A Crucial Return to Domestic Cricket
Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy comes at a time when his red-ball form has been under scrutiny. In the 2024/25 Test season, he managed just 382 runs in 19 innings at an average of 22.47, a stark contrast to his dominant performances in limited-overs cricket. Despite his struggles in Tests, Kohli was instrumental in India’s triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup, delivering a match-winning knock in the final, and setting multiple records in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Kaif believes that Kohli playing in the Ranji Trophy benefits both him and Indian cricket, providing valuable match practice ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. “This is a win-win situation. He can get some game time, find his rhythm, and hopefully regain his form before the Champions Trophy, just like he did during the 2023 World Cup,” Kaif said.
Fans and experts alike are hopeful that Kohli will use this domestic stint to rediscover his touch and return to his best before India’s next major ICC tournament.
