Virat Kohli's struggles with batting continued in the second ODI against England at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. India ended up winning both the match and the series, but Kohli's batting failure was once again on the fore. Despite his recent difficulties, Kohli was anticipated to find his form in ODIs, a format in which he has traditionally excelled. However, his return to the format proved disappointing, as he was caught behind off the bowling of Adil Rashid.
Arjuna Ranatunga's crucial advice for embattled Virat Kohli
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka legend Arjuna Ranatunga has come up with a much-needed advice for Virat Kohli. He suggested that Kohli should seek guidance from cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengasarkar, or Rahul Dravid, believing they could provide valuable insights to help him overcome his current slump.
“I think what Kohli needs to do is speak to people like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar or a Rahul Dravid. That’s what he can do. They can certainly help him out,” Ranatunga told The Telegraph.
Amidst Virat Kohli's continued struggles with form, discussions about his retirement have surfaced. However, Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning captain believes that a player of Kohli's stature and legendary status should be given the autonomy to make his own decisions regarding his future in cricket.
“For a player like Kohli who has scored so much of runs, I feel it’s best if that’s left to him. It’s a call that Kohli needs to take, so let him take it. Why always have the spotlight on him? It’s quite unnecessary I feel. It’s his decision, so let him take that,” Ranatunga further added.
Kohli received a warm welcome from the Cuttack crowd at Barabati Stadium as he walked onto the field. India were comfortably placed at 136/1 after just 16.4 overs, giving Kohli a perfect platform to build a big innings and rediscover his form. With India comfortably ahead of the required run rate and Rohit Sharma batting confidently at the other end, the stage was set for Kohli to score big.
However, Kohli's struggles continued, and he was crashed to a lowly score of 5 runs off 8 balls, falling victim to legspinner Adil Rashid.
Despite Kohli's flop show, India secured a 4-wicket victory over England, thanks to Rohit Sharma's superlative century. Kohli's batting fiasco have been ongoing for some time. His disappointing performances in the home series against Bangladesh continued into the Test series against New Zealand. This slump further extended into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he only managed 192 runs in five Tests, averaging a mere 21.33.
Kohli will be hoping to rediscover his form in the third ODI against England, scheduled for February 12th in Ahmedabad, as he prepares for the Champions Trophy.